I’ll take your point for defensive fighting, but remain unconvinced on the press.
I have no issue with longer weapons being able to strike from behind another player, I don’t buy that those characters would be able to attack in such a way as to get an advantage. You can wave that pointed stick with the vigour of a sewing machine, it won’t make the enemy step into it.
Pikes are great, in massed formations against other massed formations. But in the numbers a classic party is likely to be constructed of they are too easy to parry and step inside the reach of.
On a side note, how much of a cover bonus, if any, would you give to the folk with the spears (littemute’s example) standing behind the front line?
And following that line of thinking, how much of a cover bonus, if any, would you give to the bad guys from attacks originating from the second rank?
You people are all alike, you march in here, young, try and touch the local things.
I suppose next you'll be spraying me with one of those cans of paint, smearing poor Tubbs here with excrement.