I have really enjoyed reading (and soon to be running) the witchfire trilogy (WFT) books and the Monsternomicon. I held back on starting my campaign using the WFT, awaiting the lock and load character primer book.... but in reality needn't have bothered! I was hoping that they would have though...
I thought the idea behind the artificer is excellent - especially for a fantasy steampunk setting, such as the Iron kingdoms (IK) by Privateer Press.
You are right to point out these flaws - really this needed a massive book like the others MOngoose produces - with ideas and better rules as to...