This game is like top tier at simulating complex systems like metabolism, pocket volume and footwear friction, but I feel like its currently treating the player character as if their off-hand is paralyzed or non existent when wielding a one handed tool
Currently opening a door or lighting a fuse should trigger an automated swapping sequence where the character must holster their weapon, it feels like a mechanical tedium, that doesnt reflect actual human behavior
cause’ we have items like the “rock in a sock” in the game, weapons that are objectively suboptimal but exist because they are physically possible
So if we allow “dumb” items for the sake of realism then we should allow “dumb” holding states
my suggestion is that istead of a binary “Can and Cannot” system, move to a Penalty-Based System, allow small items to be held while a one-handed weapon is wielded, then applying a -20% melee accuracy and -Parry penalty while the off-hand is occupied.