[larsdangly]

A reason to go with a -1 DX penalty with a main gauche is that it has a special ability (deliver a second attack while keeping the -1 protection) yet requires no Unusual Weapon talent. Generally speaking, the balance of play in Melee is maintained through a careful balancing of all advantages with proportional costs or disadvantages. If a main gauche were functionally the same as a small shield I'd say it should have a 0 DX penalty (otherwise it would be superfluous). But it isn't; a main gauche gets a 1d-1 damage second attack as well, at a modest DX penalty. There has to be some sort of cost or disadvantage to compensate for this.