Stopping pawns from pushing physics objects that are way heavier than they are?

UDK character code is not the same as UE4 third person template. You are comparing specific implementation of character for UT to a bare bone code of the template.

Not everyone is making a game with pedestrians and car. For some devs it will be even detrimental by conflicting with their game rules.
Any specific reason you can’t add functionality that you want?