Chaosmancer
Legend
I think that the fact a 1st level spell slot gains effectiveness while other 1st level spells lose relevance is an indicator of poor design IMO. A 1st level Burning Hands is meaningless at 10th level, a 1st level shield likely blocks more attacks at higher levels and costs negligible resources. This is compounded if you aren't running a bunch of MMO style trash encounters EVERY DAY like 5E assumes but few people actually play.
What effectiveness does Feather Fall lose between levels 1 and 10? Silent Image? Disguise Self? Unseen Servant? Detect Magic? Doesn't Protection from Good and Evil ALSO increase in effectiveness at higher levels, when undead, fiends and aberrations become more common and more likely to mind control a party member?
And shield does lose effectiveness, a higher to hit at higher levels, makes your AC less and less effective.