Even if they're ugly... I bet you wouldn't like to be in front of one.

And now to the gladius thing... I also bealive that they chose it cause

1-It was cheap and easy to make.
2-Any "idiot" can cover and then stab, no need to get good with the sword

Rome won a lot of wars just by sheer man power (ask Hannibal, or Pyrros (sp?))