Shoving is definitely something a character should be able to do. So is throwing a barrel. They are just badly implemented because the devs want you to use these mechanics so much.
It never occurred to me but now that I think back, the fact that encumbrance in DOS and DOS2 was never a thing even though carrying capacity does exist, is because the devs wanted you to be able to carry barrels of oil and water, kettles, chairs, tables, in your backpack and throw 'em around. Makes sense.
Why do you think they introduced Deathfog barrels from the beginning on the tutorial ship?
This is the thing with Larian: what they make meta is what they make OBVIOUS. Instead of it being subtle, it is almost like someone yelling in your ear to do whatever path they want. They want YouTube compilations of shoving high-level bosses and barrel cheese because that is so KEWL~*!!*~*!*! to them.
