The mention of dual-axes has made me think of a sub-topic -

This mostly applies to swordsmen, spearmen, axe-wielders (basically any physical fighter that doesn't wield a bow) - Does anyone choose to NOT wield a weapon in each hand? In my experience the extra damage supplied by dual weapons for outweighs the lack of defense that is the result of this equipment arrangement. I've never had a problem with being too weak in the physical Def department, so all of my fighters are always wielding a weapon in each hand.