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Mostly for balance-related issues, as you don't want to replace skill checks with attack rolls, unless you have some kind of tax to pay (like how many skill feats allow you to replace one skill with another within a limited context).
It also makes some sense IRL, as long as you see skills also as knowledge in the field (which is often used in SF2, even if it isn't INT-based). Not every point that maximizes the damage is good to trip your opponent, especially considering their stance and weight distribution. It takes a lot of practice to know intuitively how to move your opponent's body to make it fall swiftly without beating them down until they have enough, and you have less than a moment to preceive it and act upon it.
Which comes back to why not replace STR with another attribute in this case, which is also the boomerang back to rules: Simplicity whenever posssible in rules most characters can use.
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For tables who want to and can handle the additional rules complexity, you can use a different attribute for a skill action. So you could make your Ranged Trip and Ranged Shove actions using an Athletics check with your Dexterity attribute instead of your Strength.
It would still use your Athletics skill proficiency instead of your weapon proficiency.
And yes, your weapon attack bonus can be wildly different than your Athletics skill bonus. Primarily if you don't opt-in and pay for the skill boosts to your Athletics skill. At level 8 the difference between being Expert in advanced weapon attacks with the Gyrojet pistol and being Untrained in Athletics for a Ranged Shove attack action would be extremely noticeable.