People arguing that throwing is weaker than other ranged are usually not considering other facts about throwing...
To start you can throw many projectiles in a small time span, while xbows have a reload time in which they must stand still.
Throwing has the lowest accuracy decrease while moving and allows them to still be somewhat accurate while mobile.
More damage than a bow (For the most part) but less than an xbow. (To fill the gap between them while at the same time creating a Medium/close ranged attack.)
The ability for a thrower to go melee in a split second instead of changing weapons is a huuuge advantage. Whether or not you are skilled in melee with that weapon is fairly null.
1h throwing weapons such as the axes and hammers are decent melee weapons to begin with.
I can agree that the weight is a bit weird and does not seem to make sense. Although, there is a reason that it is that way and should remain that way.
EDIT: This is pure speculation considering I have not played a fulled gen of Throwing myself. Just reminding people that their are other facts about throwing than the obvious.
you got it totally wrong, throwing is as slow as archery, you have lower accuracy, missile speed and almost any thrower uses dedicated 1h [or 2h] weapon in melee, as would any archer and xbowman, because throwing weapons in melee just plain suck [unless you have 7 athletics and can face hug like a pro in which case you have slight chance to beat a dedicated 1h/shielder or ther thrower].
accuracy when running is totally shit and you wont hit unless your target is 4 feet away from you and not moving. more damage with thrown is true against archers, but archers have much higher accuracy and can loom both their bow and arrows.