As you can see there is no 1/4 ratio for a monks bare hands untill level 25-29 ....
The damage of 5, is on level 5-9 , early enough sure, but the delay is 36.
I mean in many ways polished steel uliaks kick this things but on damage and other stats, but for leveling up the skill and for WAY better then bare hands for quite some time....
http://www.monkly-business.com/articles2.asp?ArticleNum=70