I would like to see these changes as well. Really I would like an option to select the sovereign background without editing the xml files, and whenever I choose the wizard stance where they hold out their hand I would like to see a particle effect for the highest level magic skill I have presently chosen. (Blue for water, Red for fire, Green for earth, Yellow for air, White for life, Purple for death... something along these lines.
I do realize it is editable in the xml, but it would be nice to have the options there anyway.