[Pocus]

For Ulm, rising the earth boots cost the earth 3 prevent the smiths to forge them. So they cant have earth boots, and are thus unable to cast blade winds, except by spending gems, which is a very bad news for Ulm.
Also, not having access to earth boots, prevent them to reach the dwarven hammer (which is now earth 4 in your mod), and the hammer really shine in the hands of Ulm smiths.

Thats why I said Ulm get crippled badly, because they cant expect a random magical slot to comes on a smith (so to get at least one earth 3 mage), and as they use to forge many items, and are prevented to do so with your mod, then they have few advantages left.