Just like with upcast spells becoming their own icon / spell, their logic is flawed.
It should go like this:
1. Equip a weapon
2. Activate Battle Master manoeuvre
3. Manoeuvre executes on equipped weapon
They are putting way too much focus on simply splitting all attacks and abilities into melee / ranged in a game where also damage type matters.
The melee / ranged split is flawed also in the sense that some characters would rather equip two melee weapons for quick access. E.g. an 8 Dex Heavy Armor melee tank with a Greatsword would rather equip a Maul for blunt damage or Longsword+Shield for a more defensive option instead of a bow they suck with.
Then again the combat design is so obsessed with wide open vertical maps with ultra mobility jumping / teleporting being the king, they probably can't even imagine a scenario where a character wouldn't have a ranged weapon.
