You know, about 5 years before anyone ever heard of a Witcher game, I carried a great sword around with me at Renaissance Fairs. I did not have it sheathed on my hip, but instead hung on hooks that were attached to a harness right at the base of my neck. Why? Because I'm 5'11" tall, and the sword, from tip to pommel, was just over 6' long. If you looked at it from a medium distance, where you couldn't see the hooks, it looked like it was floating behind me, instead of hanging on the hooks. It didn't have a sheath, I was a poor bard, not a fancy noble. I was lucky I could afford the sword.
How many had short swords, rapiers, maces, clubs, staves and torches hooked to their back though? I don't think anyone is arguing about lugging around big bulky gear on your back. I got 4k gold in my pouch and a +1 rapier, I need it on my side so one hand can sit on the pommel and the other on my hip =)
