On the other hand: fielding a dude with a spear is easier than fielding a dude with a sword. Because the technique with a spear is ultimately a lot easier to master than with a sword. The spear is such a basic and primitive weapon, the ultimate and basic use hasn't changed since Grog the caveman went to go kill some lion on the hill.

With a sword though, you need to know the right way to hold it, and you can't simply blindly wail. And you also need to know how to grip the blade for some of the ways you can use a sword beyond a hack-and-slash weapon. You can use the pummel and hilt as a mace in the right situation, and in often times against armored foes you pretty much have to grip the blade when thrusting between plates of armor so the blade doesn't bend and be as useful as a flaccid cock.