Something I could do without...

[VirgilCaine]

It's the scale that throws me off. You accumulate so much wealth, so fast, that some character concepts don't work any more. Farm boy that wants to buy a farm and retire? Done at 3rd level. Spunky street rat who wants to retire to a live of leisure in his own mansion? 6th level, if he's really into ostentation 10th level maybe.

And if you do properly address issues like control of production of magic item components then you end up with constructs like VirgilCaines Guild, which sounds cool to me but kind of puts a damper on evil Wizards.

A) That's a character goal, not a concept.

B) Never said all wizards took the Oath--there are wizards in the uncivilized races and you can always ask Vecna for power, or take up Pact magic or sell your soul or something. Along with a whole Thay-like nation of evil wizards and the nation of demonic agents.