However, why shouldn't it ALSO be a way of getting something for less. Improved and specialised knowledge improves effiecently both in time and energy.
That remembers me I was looking for a rule about SM and automatic use, the original idea was using the SM bonus as % of improvement, so you save rolls and make game faster (charcater with high bonus want ALWAYS to roll SM of course).
Then, you only roll for changing parameters (wall that moves, etc.) but for improve parameters (increase radius, range, damage, etc.) you use the 'automatic use'. So SM is really the
improves effiecently both in time and energy
I think it represent it in a good way.
Another point is that you can control the power of the skill, my original idea was using the bonus as direct % of improve, so if you have +50 you can improve 50% the params (split), so you can improve +25% range and +25% radius in case of a 'ball'. See that having +100 in skill (I think is a good bonus) you can only double 1 param, and with +150 (near possible maximum bonus) you have a +150% of improvement (a maximum of x2,5 in a single param).
You only require a SCSM when you use it but adding the ranks in SM to the SCSM roll directly.
In any way I think that the damage modifer should not be used, the only one that can increase it is the melee combat (see that in missile is not possible) because the risk (I think it should be a reward).
For 'bolts' you can add the SM ranks to OB, see that the difference is casting bolts without SM doesn't require SCSM, that can delay the casting and in combat can be dangerous.
Then you can adjust as you like, if you want less, then you use half and if you like powerfull magic you use more.
This allows too develop the skill as linear one, so casters begin to use it since low lvls and begin to improve their favorite lists in a continous way, not in a explosive way making rolls with -20 to directly double a param.
For example, a 'lay healer' that develops SM for 'con. ways' (wants to specialize) with a +50 SM bonus, 'heal 1-10' is 'heal 1-15' for it (round bottom).
Somethings like that I think makes interesting develop SM in the way you want for any list (maybe for a list you see +50 is OK and for other you want a +100), and in the other hand you can easy control the power of the skill.
Is not a good way that a character increase its lvl and says 'now I cast a bit better my favorite spells'?.