Yup, peoples are not understanding it
I would even go as far as to say that if Doom is the reference for FPS shooter combat, then Avowed is now the reference for action RPG combat. Peoples will realize this in due time. Its basically Wizard DOOM with side quests.
I think darktide, vermintide 2, dying light 1 and 2 and dead island 2 are still superior in term of pure combat feeling, maybe not all as varied because they don't have magic, all of these games have as punchy if not more punchy melee and they also have marks or gore or both.
Dark messiah is also better if you like the use of physics.
If we include first person vr games then the list grows because even something simple like gorn feel much, much more tactile than avowed, let alone more realistic stuff like blade and sorcery.
I mean unless we are talking about a genre thing, like the best medieval, fantasy combat with magic in a first person action rpg.
Some people would still pick dark messiah...