See, here's what I'm looking at... basically, the difference between the 2h Great Axe and the Polearm Long War Axe...
2h Great Axe at +3: Speed: 95; Length: 96; Swing: 49 cut; Unbalanced;
Reach after adjustments for animation:
Overhead = 96+15=111
Left-to-right = 96+17=113
Right-to-left = 96+13=109
Polearm Long War Axe at +3: Speed: 93; Length: 123; Swing: 47 cut; Balanced;
Reach after adjustments for animation:
Overhead = 123-15=108
Left-to-right = 123-7=115
Right-to-left = 123-2=121
Adjusted for animations, the reach difference is negligible, making the 2h Great Axe basically superior - faster, more damaging, lower technical length means lesser runspeed penalty. However, it's unbalanced, and I just can't wrap my head around how much that matters... but I don't want to make a whole new character just to try it out. STF, I guess.
In the end though, I'm just way more attracted to polearms' animations... I don't know if I could lose them.