>create a world where each character has a wacky unique power

>>159412017
Because simple is best. Being able to punch shit really hard with bullshit effects such as creating wind or some shit is simple and looks cool. And anybody can punch. Not everyone can shoot laserbeams with their eyes, and you can't fight that.

>>159412017
Technically his power is stopping time.
Punching hard is just something the stand of anyone who can keep his cool can do.

>>159412017
Luffy and Naruto at least have interesting punchy powers and other shit going on.
I mean it's nowhere near as bad as Star Platinum's "Trivialize the villain of the week by punching really fucking hard and nothing else" shit.

>>159412017
Because punching with nothing but your bare fists is the manliest way to fight, so it's cool to see a character beating stuff up with just those

>>159412017
Naruto mostly spams shadow clones.

>>159412017
Midoriya and Josuke (Jotaro to lesser extent) get by out of clever use of ability. Star Plat's main power was more speed than strength anyway, and there are fights Jotaro wins just by being clever (N'Doul) or reckless (D'Arby).

Gon also to an extent uses tactic, when it appeals to him. It displays much more of cleverness when they use natural abilities as much as supernatural. Same applies to Luffy, he's rubber by default so for him it's just cleverly applying what's not turning off.

Naruto also had to use cleverness since his clones were made of glass and poofed in one hit, his skill was fuckoff huge levels of chakra and having Main Character powers.

There's nothing inherently wrong with Punch powers, as long as it's used in creative ways beyond "just punch them harder."

You want a real example of "just hit it harder," look at Ichigo.