One of the main reasons is simplicity, GURPS favors the sword and board guy(not as much today, but GURPS 3e, as well as Man to Man did much more), as such, most warriors would use this combination, and would have a shield defense and a sword defense, one of each only in the originals.
Now, imagine the situation where the defenses were the choices are "Block: with sword" and "Block: with shield".
Situation 1:
Player: I block.
GM: Ok, roll.
Player: 12, I passed.
GM: No, you didn't, your shield defense is 11.
Player: Well, I blocked with the sword.
(With parry and block, we don't have this confusion or rules lawiering)
Situation 2:
Player: I block with my shield.
GM: Ok, roll. WAIT, what's your block value with the shield?
Player: Don't know, I have 2 blocks in my character sheet, which one is for the sword and which one is the shield?
GM: The top one is with the sword.
Player: Ok, I choose the bottom one, the shield.
GM: Ok, roll.
(With parry and block, we don't have this confusion, you already know with is with).
Situation 3:
Player: I block the arrow.
GM: Ok, roll
Player: I passed.
GM: Ok, but another one gonna hit you.
Player: Now I block with my shield.
GM: Wait, you can't block arrows with your sword, shields and weapons have entirely different rules for blocking.
Player: Then why do they have the same name?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Polydamas
You also cannot use the Cross Parry option with a Shield or Buckler weapon, even though it is the standard way of parrying in some sword-and-buckler styles.
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Who said that? that would mean that on single combat a dagger or similar secondary weapon would be better than a shield.