They could just add npcs selling basic resources (copper ingots, juniper timber, linen, etc - maybe even bronze and spruce and wool). Would give more value to money and add a bigger cash sink. You'd still be required to go out and collect the higher end resources to gain skills beyond a certain point, but for people working on low end skills or even mastering a specific item (say by making 1000 copper greataxes for greataxe making proficiency) would have a way to dump money for basic resources.
I just examined the diff weapon types for damage/delay. Was kind of surprising, and may explain the prevalence of axes.
All the 1h weapons are the same. At basic 1.0 quality the damage is exactly 1/2 the delay (0.5). The short blades are fast at 3, 4, 5 damage. 1h long blades are a bit slower at 5 and 6. Battleaxe is same as longsword at 6. Hammers have the same 5 and 6 of long blades with a slower 1h flail for 7.
The 2h weapons differ wildly. Two handed axe is 12 dmg, 14 delay (0.86), Greataxe is 14 dmg 18 delay (0.78), Greathammer is 14 dmg 20 delay (0.7), Greatsword is 12 dmg 18 delay (0.67), Halberd is 10 damage 15 delay (0.67), and Two handes sword is 10 damage 17 delay (0.59).
For the 1h weapons it doesn't really matter and would just depend on the special attacks (anyone have info on what the diff ones do?), but for 2h the axes are surprisingly better than all the rest. I guess the others might make up for it in useful styles, but I know for sure the axe gets a good one (too good atm with the bug, but even if it was just double attack speed as apparently intended thats still huge, although it does lower your armor I think).