I've played a bunch of shield paladins. I can think of a more than a few instances where I'd want to use shield + hands. And it's nice to be able to carry something as well.

Like if I'm fighting a thief on the ocean. I kind of want to hold a boat (if I don't have a wearable one), but still use my shield. Or maybe fighting a bard/mage I'll want to use my hands, and carry a +stat item of some kind. I doubt I'm the only one.

Or after getting kot'd by an assassin, I'd much rather wear a shield than a weapon and no shield.

Basically, a lot of little things that no one really thinks about until suddenly it isn't possible anymore. I don't think you could argue that these are "overpowered" or anything like that. And while they might not be perfectly realistic, so what?

If this is just the start of a change, fine. But it's still a nuisance to people playing now. And, not to be insulting or anything, I think it's something that was completely overlooked when the code was first put in.