10 is pretty significant, especially since he uses Axes (which are, once again, inexpensive). Whispers use really expensive, low powered knives too, so it equates to like 15 or 20 damage difference.
I'm pretty sure Cancel activates a lot more than Bane too.
It happened when Strength determined your AS. Nolan and Jill are pretty much the only ones that have to "grow into" axes, everyone else is pretty much set with them.