"Longer reach is hugely advantageous, if both parties are playing the same game."

Off-topic but this brings back fond memories of the old CRPG action/strategy game 'Pirates' which I played on my good-old Commodore-64 back in the latter 1/2 of the '80's.

There was a 'duelling' sequence (capt vs capt) involved when boarding a ship & once the proper technique was discovered it was always better to choose the long-bladed raper-type weapon instead of a cutlass.

Even though the cutlass could inflict many more damage points, proper use of the 'long-blade' would keep your opponent at bay, beyond his reach & you could win by the 'death of a thousand stabs'.

Boy did I just love that game!