What if all dailies were encounter powers?

[Rel]

I like many aspects of 4E, but I dislike the fact that spell casters feel like warriors. Every problem is a nail and the spell casters have so many hit for damage spells. Magic is no longer special, it's just another power (and often a hit point damaging one at that).

I wouldn't say that to me "magic is no longer special" but I understand where you are coming from and felt this to a lesser extent. My patch for this as well as to introduce some variability into what the PC's do is that I allow them to spend an Action Point + Healing Surge to "do something cool that fits your character concept but isn't covered by a power".

This kind of "Power Stunting" has introduced some elements back to the game that it sounds like you are after. For example the Cleric of Melora wanted to use her affinity with nature to cause an enemy's gryphon mount to buck its rider off. It helps cover a lot of things that aren't just damage causing effects.