Is it not time to take a little looksie on hand to hand perhaps?

As it is today a hand to hand guy seems to outtank a sword spec and that does not seem right.

Only the attacks from a log in dios between a giant sword spec and a giant hand to hand spec:

You deliver a blow of deadly force!
Your punch === OBLITERATES === Acaga!
Your punch EVISCERATES Acaga!
You dodge Acaga's divine power.
You dodge Acaga's cleave.
You dodge Acaga's cleave.

Acaga parries your punch.
Acaga dodges your punch.
Acaga dodges your punch.
You dodge Acaga's divine power.
You parry Acaga's cleave.
You dodge Acaga's divine power.
You dodge Acaga's cleave.

Acaga parries your punch.
Acaga dodges your punch.
Your punch EVISCERATES Acaga!
You parry Acaga's divine power.
You parry Acaga's cleave.
You parry Acaga's cleave.
You parry Acaga's cleave.

Your punch EVISCERATES Acaga!
Your punch EVISCERATES Acaga!
You dodge Acaga's divine power.
Acaga's divine power *** DEMOLISHES *** you!
You dodge Acaga's divine power.
Acaga delivers a blow of deadly force!
You parry Acaga's cleave.

Your punch MUTILATES Acaga!
You deliver a blow of deadly force!
Acaga dodges your punch.
Your punch EVISCERATES Acaga!
Your punch EVISCERATES Acaga!
You parry Acaga's divine power.
You parry Acaga's wrath.
You dodge Acaga's divine power.

Your punch nearly breaks through Acaga's blocking blow.
Your punch MUTILATES Acaga!
Acaga parries your punch.
You deliver a blow of deadly force!
Acaga dodges your punch.
You parry Acaga's divine power.
You parry Acaga's wrath.
Acaga delivers a blow of deadly force!
You parry Acaga's wrath.

Acaga parries your punch.
Acaga dodges your punch.
Acaga parries your punch.
Acaga parries your punch and returns an attack of his own.
Acaga's divine power *** DEVASTATES *** you!
You parry Acaga's divine power.
Acaga delivers a blow of deadly force!
You parry Acaga's wrath.
You dodge Acaga's divine power.

You deliver a blow of deadly force!
Acaga parries your punch.
Acaga dodges your punch.
You dodge Acaga's divine power.
You parry Acaga's divine power.
You dodge Acaga's wrath

Acaga parries your punch.
Acaga parries your punch.
Acaga dodges your punch.
Acaga's divine power nearly breaks through your blocking blow.
Acaga delivers a blow of deadly force!
You parry Acaga's wrath.
You dodge Acaga's divine power.
You parry Acaga's wrath.

hand to hand landed 9 hits.
sword spec landed 1 hit + a reposte.

This could be ok I guess if the hand to hand skills were subpar, but they are not. pummel is great and so is stun, even vital is pretty good now.

I know you cannot utilize vulns with a hand to hand spec, but on the other hand you always have your hands, you never loses them due to strength loss.

There are several logs(tanks like a fiend even if slowed and so on) and own experiences. Dunno if it is giants that are very good at it or enhanced reactions that is working really well with it, or maybe just too good tank/offense. Anyhow, maybe take a look at it?

m

but this is a rehash so I didn't bother posting again.

Try tanking a mace spec with hands. Those maces smash you up easily.

Why do hands parry swords so well?

Hands parry blades well. You can easily get your hand onto the side of a blade and deflect it. In my view, they've always parried swords and daggers well for this reason and should continue to.

Its just the way some sorts of weapons tend to fend of others/disarm others better. I like it.