Short Sword + Short Sword = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_swords
Despite the name, those are pretty much knives, actually. Fore-arm length is the size of a kitchen knife.
Long Sword + Dagger = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_gauche
If they'd program it that way, then I'd be pleasantly surprised. You know, making the knife something for parrying rather than a second attacking weapon for stringing combos.
I just don't see how spears and those feet are more practical or unique. And your point doesn't seem to get in the way of an interesting, semi-coherent world. That's the job of the writers. Spears and weird feet don't seem to be integral to the lore of the world so much as small details that are ultimately optional.
You are facing something bigger. You want a longer weapon so that you're not at a distance disadvantage. You want a polearm. Simple, no? And in a game where the central theme is dragons, you'd expect to fight dragons. Like something bigger than you. To put it in more realistic terms, what melee weapon would a footman want to wield against cavalry?
Humans are the norm for protagonists and "fantasy races", hence the further away from that (anatomically, culturally, etc.), the more unique it gets.