Hooray, a fellow friend of LifeStone!

The "alternative" LifeStone in the top post is definitely a step down in all ways except for its ability to avoid getting wasted by Thundermage. I imagine the suggestion came about as a negative response to the ease of gaining material with it. Mostly it was an exercise to see whether LifeStone's fiercest detractors would accept even a "watered-down" variation on the same theme.

Thanks for comment; I'll send 10 RP along shortly.