I feel like the utilization of weaponry as main gameplay mechanic in Liquid Lungs is or should be more to differentiate itself from Mirror's Edge Catalyst (legally distinct).
The hand-to-hand combat aspect of Faith and the runners was meant to define them against the police state they lived in (where the police used weapons to kill runners and political dissidents). It wasn't non-violence, and it wasn't entirely defensive.
It was also a way of making the game distinct in a sea of late 2000s FPS games. And in the original Mirror's Edge, weapons were only used as an absolute last resort against enemies when they outnumbered Faith.
And yet it was one of the most criticized aspects of the game. Enough so that it was no longer a gameplay element in Catalyst.
I don't think Lungs' choice was made with malice or misunderstanding, but it is an example of a culture shift. One that thinks gunplay is a necessary element for their take on dystopian parkour.
It was odd that it was touted as a positive inclusion (in the alpha-beta-gamer trailer) for Lungs where it was an agreed upon negative for Edge.