[AdmiralZhao]

Telestic Animate was useful for me in one MP game. I was playing LA Midgard and attacking Marignon. Marignon was on the border of LA Ryleh, and as the war wore on and I destroyed Marignon's temples, Ryleh's dominion started covering the area. I did not have many priests along with my armies, and did not have the spare gold for temples, so I used TA at Marignon's captured labs and created at least a few safe spots where my armies could wait without going insane. So, it is occasionally useful to be able to substitute labs and astral gems for temples and gold.

I suppose TA could also be useful if you are being mind-hunted and need some quick chaff commanders. At 18 MR the TAs seem like they would be good at soaking attacks.