I don't think anyone saw this coming!
Yeah, but that's not really anything much when you compare it to another full caster at the same level. At 5th level an Artificer gets what... two "permanent" magic item features and three 1st level spells? Versus a full caster who has 4 cantrips, 4 1st level spells, 3 2nd level spells and 2 3rd level spells. Does gaining darkvision and the ability to swim really easily (for example) that overpowered compared to the other 6 spells per day the wizard would be casting plus 4 at-will magics? I don't believe so.
Or maybe I'm just very stingy with magic items to my players...
Admittedly I am filtering this through my years of DMing, but I think part of my "not very fond" is that I'm having problems seeing past the fact that they are getting magic items, for free, that most characters have to spend a good majority of their careers adventuring for.
Or maybe I'm just very stingy with magic items to my players...