Corlon said:
You couldn't do that unless you had a wand or a scroll, the maximum is 5 spells of ninth level.
Nothing comes close to the # of skills that a rogue gets (13 maxed out at first level with int. 18 and being human)
And what happens when a wizard loses his spell components or his spellbook and is put in a dungeon? Here comes the rogue sneaking in just to get him out.
I usually think that sorceres are better than wizards, DOWN WITH PREPARING
Dealing with each paragraph:
Not true. You could do it with 36 Int (hard but possible) or by being a specialist. Besides, scrolls are not a big problem to get for wizards (Scribe Scroll + four free IC/MM feats? Sign me up.)
Wizards can possibly rival rogues on skills at the high levels. With a 30 Int, they get as many skill points as a rogue with 18 Int. Admittedly, their list is slightly contracted compared with the rogue's. However, the main counterargument is that wizards can simply eclipse many skills with spells. Who needs Open Lock when you have Knock? Hide is a poor cousin of Improved Invisibility. The 'athletic' skills (Jump, Climb etc.) pale in comparison to Fly. And so on.
If the high-level wizard loses his spell components, no big deal. Just teleport home and pick up the spares. And don't tell me that the wizard doesn't use Drawmij's Instant Summons on his main spellbook. If you are frequently in this position, just pick up Spell Mastery as one of your five free feats.
Sorcerors better than wizards? Fair enough, if you treat wizards as glorified cannon. But when you need identification, knocking, scyring, permanencying, and all those other spells that sorcerors don't tend to go for, who are you going to turn to?