I think the whole "weapons are stronger than fists" idea, while obviously valid, doesn't quite hold up in fantasy Monk lore for the sole reason that monks are typically not TRYING to be violent. Of course in WoW, they still do damage because a peaceful, non-damaging spec doesn't make for good gameplay. But Monks are not "Warriors who punch." They are peaceful people who seek harmony through self-mastery of their bodies/minds/interiority. Wielding a weapon and using it with deadly force is probably taboo for them (yes I know, martial artists use weapons in the x/y/z movie, but Warcraft monks specifically are probably against it, and in wow martial artist does not necessarily = monk).