The melt/freeze thing was a method of justifying my stance, nothing more. I mean, it's another way of getting a whip made of water, is it not? So was my thought exercise not successful?

Though you could have fooled me with the weapon part of Ice Shards. I guess when it says

...a waterbender may craft any ordinarily wooden or metal melee weapon or ammunition she is familiar with...
it doesn't really mean any. And all I was saying is that just because they haven't done it, doesn't mean they can't. And judging by the physics, they probably can, they just don't want to. Heck, they'll probably take non-proficiency penalties if they form a greatsword out of ice and try to use it. We don't have any way of judging that yet, if ever.

I'm not trying to make the show better. I'm trying to make this system work better, and thus better emulate the show.