-bash damage only works off base AR(shield) and attack rating(weapons)

-All critical damage perks on all weapons

-Many of the weapon type modifier perks make little difference in the first place because they don't seem to scale with anything.

-Fists of steel

Normally i wouldn't mind because this game is more roleplaying than just killing stuff, but Bethesda added perks to the game that don't make the game as enjoyable as it could.

Probably for balance issues even though it's a single player game. It's easy enough to make ultrapowerful weapons and armor and if it took smithing into account it would probably be too much.

Just a guess.

I think you're right about how easy it is to make ultra-powerful stuff - but that adds even more credence to the OP's question/complaint. If Bethesda knew the game could yield amazing artifacts easily, why underpower this other aspect? It really doesn't compensate for the ultra-powerful stuff. We've been discussing this issue as it relates to one-handed weapons on another thread. We are wondering why they didn't include better perks (like disarming or sideways attacks) instead of the current useless perks that amplify the pitiful base damage of one-handed weapons.

I'd make the assumption that they simply didn't consider how perks, smithing, and enchantments interact. A 50% base damage crit chance is very good if the weapon isn't tempered. It also stands up fairly well even for a Legendary weapon with all damage-increasing perks (for example, Daedric sword -- 14 + 10 from smithing times two for perks is 48, so 7 extra damage, while not outstanding, is fair). Worth noting that I'm not certain if crit damage is increased by power attacking.

The problem comes with smithed weapons with enchantments while wearing gear and using potions that increase damage... then the crit damage is outstripped by the weapon's "normal" damage.

But hey, you could have it worse -- you could be using Destruction...