Originally Posted by EJM
Because all the points you stated can be played top and for better reasons. If you're thinking wave clear and pushing, it's easier to manage that in the top lane, where the jungler and mid lane threaten to gank you, instead of mid, where bot, top and jungler all threaten to do so.
In the top lane, you'll have an easier time poking and getting in melee range, while in mid, ranged mages will give you a hard time, especially for your barrels.
GP mid has potential, but top lane is still a much better choice for him.
I have more of an impact from mid lane than top lane imo. I can even run tp mid if I really had to (vs twisted fate, shen, etc). Sitting near tower farming whilst the squishy enemy laner is overextending to harass me (note it's hard to gank me because of my oranges + movespeed from barrels) means free kills for our jungler or me.
If the enemy tries to freeze I can just pop a barrel in the wave and unfreeze it instantly, so there's that.
