system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Terminator/Superman] What do the characters hope to gain by fighting each other in the way they do?

This pertains specifically to these series, but the question can be applied more broadly. If you look at the way Superman fights Zod in the movies, or the way Terminators dish it out, why do they waste their time hitting each other with iron bars and throwing their opponents through concrete walls when they know that those things can't hurt them? The movies make it seem like this strategy would work (in Superman 2, we're expected not to have a problem with Superman being apparently injured by a thrown manhole cover, or being unable to stop a thrown bus that can't be moving at more than 20 miles an hour. Likewise, in Terminator 2, the T-1000 hazards upon a large gear to trap the T-800). But if I'm trying to kill somebody and I'm in a pillow factory, I'm sure people would be confused if they saw me slamming people into cushions or throwing styrofoam at them. So what gives?
gpt
Thrown pillows can still hurt a little and they are disorienting.  Imagine walking through a pillow factory while you have pillows constantly being thrown at you.

I believe these stratagems are usually ways to buy time while you find better ways to attack.  Otherwise, they can also be used to throw your opponent off guard.