Fan response: Although you non-Disgaea gamers may not understand why an archer class is using an axe, it's a semi-logical second choice weapon.
Archers rely on Atk+Hit/2 Axe Wielders rely on ATK, but take a beating to their hit stat (all but the highest tier axe lowers HIT, and gets worst up until the second highest tier axe). So an Archer's high HIT stat would theoretically offset that.
However like I said it's only a semi-logical (or flawed logic), as unless I'm mistaken, an archers high % stat aptitude for HIT would mean that HIT would be lowered even more. Once you have a top tier Axe though (one that doesn't lower hit), it's all good.
You're correct. The higher the base HIT stat, the larger the penalty. So Archers would actually lose more of their HIT stat because their multiplier value is something like 1.3x.