If playing legit, the most important thing is your skill level with that weapon. Most people have a primary and a secondary. I have a mace character and I have a sword character and both have frostner but only one has mistwalker. In my play i always have mace as a secondary. sword/mace spear/mace knife/mace are a few I really enjoyed. So I guess thats why even though skill level is the true decider if a weapon is best for "you" the best mace (frostner) has the advantage of doing extra damage to so many difficult mobs/bosses. 80/40 is what I usually go for, always getting the secondary leveled first. Also if the devs stick to common rpg themes/mechanics blunt is the best weapon against undead and now knowing the ashlands are undead I bet we see something to replace frostner next biome.

P.S. 100% agree with OP though on spear being not only fun but the least resource intensive primary weapon to have.

:edit: sorry I forgot to answer your question. Knives. Try a knife build, you will love it. Work on sneak from the start and have fun backstabbing!