Something to spice up conjies at low levels...

I don't know, I've always thought it was a pretty big jump from one small animal as a familiar to full blown elementals.

My thought on this one was that there has to be some way to "work up" to elementals...call it, for lack of a more "groovy" name, minor conjuration. You cast it, you get a single attack from a minor elemental of that type...As an example

c 'minor conjuration' fire

A <insert small fire creature here> answers your bidding and attacks.
Your creature BROILS a novice!
Having served it's purpose, <insert small fire creature here> returns to it's plane.

Ok, so I'm kinda rambling, but you get the idea.

Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between existentialism and a bad mood. - Matthew Stover, "Blade of Tyshalle"