Engineers must quantify all that they can or they wouldn't be engineers. Energy is quantification based upon observable and repeatable actions which allow people to compare various bullets, cartridges, rifles, etc. Momentum will work also. So will candlesticks, mushrooms, ice or just about anything that people will agree means the same thing to all of them.
Energy is used because most folks understand that energy is energy and not something magical or mysterious. If you don't like energy, for whatever reason. then don't use it.
I don't have any particular hang up about using energy because I am an engineer and understand that 1 inch is 25.4mm is 2.54cm.
