when you can get Persistent spells for free, casting them up to 24 hours ahead of combat, I'd conclude that the "drawback" of taking a long time when casting the spells is a complete non-issue.
Meta-magic feats were 'balanced' with the absolute necessity of having them increase the level of the spell they're enhancing.
If there IS no cost, than the magic system as designed breaks.
And this from just 1 level of PrC that can be taken as a 7th level.
Actually, it takes the spelldancer a number of rounds equal to the spell levels higher than normal.
And Jeremy - I feel the same - the stuff I'm including in my Smack I would feel slimy if I brought into a real game.
But that's the great part about this adventure of Jeph's.
BTW: The spelldancer says "The spelldancer chooses one or more metamagic feats to apply to a spell"
Does this in any way restrict her to only using a feat she knows once?
If that was the case, it would stop the most abusive parts of multiple-Empowering, but still leave the gaping hole of Persistent spells wide open (but really, Persistent spell should never have been added in T&B in the first place - I believe many people deny the use of it...)
end: i ran out of time to type out tonight.