Tbf, serious knockback / punch (ab)use seems to require a learning process specific to that strategy, instead of being part of the general learning process of Desktop Dungeons, so it is a slight bit more of a veteran strat than, say, Taurog Berserker.
Haven't played the punch game enough to know if it's generically powerful or if it's its special interaction with Orc Wizard, Rat Monarch, etc., though I'm inclined to take y'alls word that it really is that powerful. I do know now that Punchomancer is definitely one of the top, top tier strats in the game. My Punchomancer had an easier time with VT Purist VHoT than my Halflingzerker of Taurog did. Also, shade, just to showcase the strength of the class for a particular conversation, up and wins VT Purist Library with it just to prove a point, no special comment on how difficult that run was.