[thejeff]

The short range spells are useful. They just can't really be scripted.
They get used when the bad guys reach your mages. I've seen the Hand of Death types save mages from assassins and the Immolation types do serious damage when the lines have been breached or fliers get to the mages.

You really don't want your buffed and fully equipped SC to start casting attack spells most of the time. The fatigue will get him killed. And if he's not buffed and fully equipped you don't want your mage attacking. Let him sit back and be artillery.