Tuesday, 24th April 2012, 16:11 by Blade
It's not because "that's the way it is." It's because hunters have a very specific role -- that of primarily ranged combat. They need to pick up melee to support this role, at least in the early game, but their end goal is (theoretically) ranged.
Starting with a spear and javelins is too much to ask because that is far more than any other class gets. You start with a melee weapon and pick up stones/needles/bullets/darts/javelins from the floor, or you start with javelins and pick up a falchion/spear/mace/hand axe/quarterstaff from the floor. Every class has this dichotomy; the ones that start with both (hunters, assassins, artificers, etc.) have one that is notably weak (short sword, dagger, staff). Thematic doesn't matter. You're not a spearman/javelineer. You are a javelineer. You can (and should) pick a spear up, but you absolutely should not be handed one.
(also, base stats barely matter, and all that starting without a god means is that you have to wait until d:4 to grab a god)