I think that if they were LA +1, nobody would ever want to play them. No. bo. dy. Ever.
Therefore, they are well placed by being at LA +0.
Sure, they have a package of immunities and vulnerabilities that are different from the usual humanoid's. And this was the intent, they open a way to play something really different without being penalized for it.
I should point out that if you're out to look for abuses and munchkinism, you'll find far more of them for changelings and shifters than for warforged.
► Having the shapechanger subtype, they are quasi-immune to
baleful polymorph (they can revert to their natural form as a standard action).
► They can qualify for the Warshaper prestige class as soon as level 4, and thus become Warshapers at level 5 (no other race can).
► They are always proficient with all simple weapons (something druids, monks, and wizards would otherwise not have), and with shields if they are proficient with any armor (something rogues would otherwise not have).
Shapechanger Subtype: A shapechanger has the supernatural ability to assume one or more alternate forms. Many magical effects allow some kind of shape shifting, and not every creature that can change shapes has the shapechanger subtype.
Traits: A shapechanger possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).
- Proficient with its natural weapons, with simple weapons, and with any weapons mentioned in the creature’s description.
- Proficient with any armor mentioned in the creature’s description, as well as all lighter forms. If no form of armor is mentioned, the shapechanger is not proficient with armor. A shapechanger is proficient with shields if it is proficient with any type of armor.
And I've spared you the "they've all Improved Unarmed Strike, since they are proficient with their natural weapons."
