So, steel trident and steel spear

[Socrates Johnson]

They're virtually identical weapons. Sure they look different but that's it.

Steel Trident:
health damage: 63
armor piercing: 36%

Steel Spear:
health damage: 62
armor piercing: 36%

Exact same weights, exact same attacks, exact same reach,exact same feat requirements and cost, spear comes a level earlier and trident has 97 more durability.

Did they maybe have two different special attacks that were disabled? I know I used to be able to charge forward with the trident (was going crazy at first trying to remember how to do it before reading it was disabled).

Longsword and falcata are in a similar state. Virtually identical weapons but they're unlocked at 30 and 34 respectively, and the earlier unlock has more durability.

What is the point of choosing one over the other? Is it a purely cosmetic choice?

[Lakeland]

They are changing weapons in the next patch

[Socrates Johnson]

They're changing combat entirely and I'm not convinced they went in the correct direction.

[Fox]

There's a full combat revamp as well as complete weapon rebalancing included with the next content update.