Chris, if I may comment
I think you should call your mod ABM (Alternate Balance Mod), to make it clear it is an alternative. Also, because it is called "balance mod", I would suggest you leave out the new spells and items and make a separate mod for them. Personally I like your bug-fixes and old-age fixes, but I do not feel that comfortable with the new thingies in the mod. I hope it would be possible to cherry pick and just take the fixes, because they are IMO sorely needed