Why are the Beast Shape Spells so Bad (Compared to Tabletop)?

[Stink Bug]

Perhaps this was a better question to ask in the Kingmaker forums considering Owlcat didn't change these spells at all for Wrath, but given the addition of several archetypes based around polymorph (Beastkin Beserker, Metamorph, Arcane Bloodrager, Feral Champion) and dinosaurs there was a huge missed opportunity to overhaul these in Wrath.

For those who don't know, currently Beast Shape I-IV gives you a Wolf, Leopard with pounce, Bear, and Smilodon/Wyvern at each level respectively. Since you lose armor/shield and quickitems when shifted, only the leopard and smilodon/wyvern are situationally worth using, and even then by the levels you get them (a level 4 druid wolf at the earliest) you're contending against serious damage reduction in addition to being a squishy target.

In Tabletop, with Beast shape I you can become any medium or small animal, and with Beast shape II you can become any large animal with a bevy of ability options, and III a huge animal with even more possible abilities. That means a leopard or velociraptor without pounce at Beast shape I, a Smilodon/Dire Tiger with pounce at Beast shape II, or a Mastodon/Triceratops with trample at III; muuuuch more usable forms at the levels you get them, especially for the above archetypes or 1/2 or 2/3 casters with the spells on their list. So why didn't Owlcat follow the Pathfinder rules here? They had the creature models already available, and with the metric ton of magic weapons/armor available out of every orifice in Kingmaker balance shouldn't have been an issue.

Would you actually use these spells if such tabletop appropriate shapes were available instead? I sure would.

[Conquista]

people do use them,but on animal companion for an additional stat boost