First of all, I searched the forums but could not find anything like it, so here's my two cents:
If you are a channeler, shouldn't you be able to channel the raw power of the elements? Magic should be researched to IMPROVE your control of the elemnets or/and for imbued champions use, think about it! At the beggining, the channeler should be able to use simple magic, like let's say, apllying fire to his hands/weapon for a melee attack, using earth to create a shield.....you get the picture, and after you keep researching, you learn how to apply the theory into practice, e.g : Fireball or summoning a Golem.
I've been playing Magicka for a bit during the last days and I must say that something of the sorts could benefit the game, the more you research, the better your spells get, and new combinations become possible.
For example, what is a fireball? It's the raw power of fire harvested and then you combine it with the channeling of Air to make it a projectile.
Suggestions? I'm open