You referenced a lot of stuff that was not shown in the movie, like super healing. How was I supposed to know they were actually wounded by the crashes and dirtied by all that dust and debris, but those were simply healed and cleaned in the instant they weren't shown onscreen? I know Superman has super healing, but they did change a lot of his powers in this film.

I know the brain has no pain receptors. If you read my post, I was talking about damage. Not your brain itself feeling pain or being KOd, just simple damage. You see, when I saw them getting up again and again as if nothing was hurting them, I actually assumed that they were not being hurt. I did not know they were actually getting battered but healing and tidying up off screen.

Kal's power in the film seemed to show significant growth since the oil rig incident. He even managed to break the alien machine that was using gravity to smash a city (from within the gravity beam!). Sure he had incredible trouble at first, but then he shouted.

I maintain that since the steel beam is less durable and softer than the aliens, it should not be able to hurt them. It may allow for a faster attack (more forceful, but not really easier to land because it requires wind up and is more predictable) and better range, which are all good, but hitting enemies with pillows really fast from far away is still hitting enemies with pillows. However, I said all that with the assumption that they were not being hurt or damaged by the impact. If as you say they were actually being invisibly damaged, then the steel beam would actually be a bat than a pillow/baguette, and is a decent weapon of choice.

I am not a superman fan, nor do I know much about his history and changes to his powers. This means that my understanding of the events of the movie will differ from fans, and that is probably where our opinions diverge.