What's WotC's reluctance for 2d6 weapons?

[Ridley's Cohort]

I think that they are using the greatsword as a benchmark -- no weapon is allowed to be obviously better or even as good for normal characters unless it is an exotic weapon.

 

[sukael]

The jovar in the Planar Handbook is identical to the greatsword, except that it is an exotic weapon and its threat range is 1 larger.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Because great axes are so cool that if they didn't average half a point less on damage than a great sword nobody would ever use great swords.