But the thread Zulg and Nep posted a couple years ago proved to me, at least, that we're not there yet.

The problem is there is nothing as sickeningly powerful in the game as an ABS mage. So you can't give every mage unfettered access to ABS (although a Mage with known ABS locations comes perilously close). And most of the mages I've seen with access to ABS won't fight without it no matter how little the risk. So you can't limit access with cooling periods. And as any melée class player will tell you, you are licking your chops at an opportunity to fight a Mage without barrier because on an even playing field that is at worst a 50/50 fight. Moreover, removing features always seems like a last resort to me - the refuge of scoundrels. So you can't just kill barrier.

It really is a puzzle.