If you're measuring the playerbase when there's only 5-10 players online instead of the usual 30-40+, then of course your statistics will be off. I just did a tally list for giggles. Out of 38 people, there were 14 people below level 8 and 24 people above level 8.
The big point of the item discussion is that there's far too many cruddy properties for anyone to ever want to use that weapon. The death shard is a +2 weapon with On Hit Level Drain. Yes, it does have negatives to concentration and discipline, and there is "No damage", but that weapon is exceptionally good for an assassin PC. It gives them +2 AB and despite having "No damage", the sneak/death attack damage still goes through, and that's where most of the damage comes from anyway.
This weapon? -2 Strength and Constitution alone and no attack bonuses. On a cleric or bard, yes, it could hold some value, but then if I'm playing one of those classes, why would I buff such a crap-tastic weapon when I can buff one of the many other better weapons that hold the same gold value? Even a buffed death shard would hold more value than that (I can use a shield with a death shard).