Usefulness of Cantrips? (free actions?)

[Darklone]

One of the players in my campaign routinely casts an Extended Daze, and gets more milage out of it than he would a 1st level spell.

Right. Our party enchanter nearly wasted the enemy halforc baba lvl4 with that... several extended dazes.

Dancing lights always came in handy with See invisibility...

Lights: Who does not need it now and then?

Presti: Best spell ever.

Ray of Frost: too good as free action.

I wouldn't see a problem to create light as free action... but keep it a case by case thingy.