So, lanterns break with a pickaxe, rather than with your hand.

It doesn't make sense. If you're able to instantly break torches, you should be able to instantly break lanterns, too.

Let's face it: it's weird to see the little break cracks on lanterns. Who picks up lanterns with a pickaxe? It's just so inconvenient to have to switch to a pickaxe and waste durability, just to pick up a lantern. The crack marks on lanterns don't make sense, either. You should be able to pick up a lantern with your fists, just like you do in real life with your hands, rather than have it break into smithereens after physically cracking/destroying it.

You can insta-break sponge blocks, and you can insta-break grass/weeds. Why not lanterns, of all items?