Honest Question: Why Can Voli Fliip Minions?

Played Volibear for the first time tonight and lost track of the number of times I'd go running after someone and a minion would block my path, causing me to flip them rather than the enemy champion. What is even the point of that? Is it to make his Q a little harder to land, and him a little less powerful?

Because, my god, I don't know why he doesn't see more play than he does. I love Amumu, Sejuani, Vi, and Wukong... but Volibear is the first jungler that makes me feel like a certifiable badass. I'm a bear. That shoots lightning. Tibbers has nothing on this.