I guess it is all about layers of security. People say, "I don't want to get to the point of hand to hand." Well, what if it got there? You would be sorry you didn't think about that extra layer of security!
Most adversaries would have a combat knife or whatever. If you had a spear or a sword, you would have the advantage over the majority.
The Asagi, you could wrap with 550 and have more of a grip if you didn't have the pole.