I don't think you're quite geting it Dude -- it's not an either/or choice. You can decide during each casting whether you want an automatic hit for less damage, or whether you want to concentrate on walloping an enemy good but have to make a successful (touch) attack.
Everybody feel free to knit the PCs' backgrounds together as much as you want. Just go ahead and make my job easier if you must. *snif* I'll survive somehow.