I like what Hawke was doing in the destiny trailer. He didn't use magic very often in the fight,so that when he did use it was cathartic and climactic,just like Gandalf.
There is value in restraint.
Rewatching the Destiny trailer just made me disappointed that we didn't even get a cinematic kill on the Arishok, never mind get to fight him outside on the steps.
It's sad to hear staves being mandatory for mages in Inquisition. I'm going to miss Spellweaver 
It is a bit silly. I can see Circle Mages and Saarebas using foci that aren't weapons, specifically because they are oppressed groups. The powers that be are threatened enough by them to justify keeping even a basic weapon like a staff out of their reach. Trinkets like wands, rings and crystal balls are a lot less threatening than a 6' length of wood when a mage runs out of Mana.
Blood Mages using a clunky ritual knife as a focus is thematic, even Tevinter Mages that don't dabble in blood magic might use ornate daggers, simply because their ancestors used blood magic and sacrificed a lot of slaves doing so...
Dalish Keepers using traditional or ancestral weapons make a lot of sense. If the Elvhenen and old Dalish used blades as foci, why wouldn't the Keepers of those old traditions attempt to emulate or recreate that?
Saarebas might use their manacles as a focus, or perhaps even their mask/muzzle. Having a 'volatile' approach to magic, they might eschew foci entirely and take the risks associated with blasting enemies with unfiltered energy from the fade. Make them angry enough and they will literally punch fireballs and lightning bolts into their foes.
Hedge wizards can take a unique approach to magic. They might attempt to emulate other mages they have heard about and use the same type of tools or foci, or perhaps they can take a more personal approach. One of the advantages of being self-taught, I guess.
I get that there may need to be a need to restrict weapon types due to technical reasons. I can only hope that a future DA title uses a different design design philosophy in order to enable a greater variety of cosmetic differences between members of the same class, particularly mages, though rogues could use some love too. I'm certainly looking forward to the weapon and armor customisation in Inquisition, so if that can be improved upon even further in a future title, it would be awesome.
And then you get the same problems that wrack the modern elder scrolls games where there is 1 or 2 best options and all others are pointless, you will always only use the best armor type always only use the weapon type with the best member, and no one has any real identity, and if you dare to go against it you will be one shot by every thing or spend 5 minutes stunlocking them,
In response to the main topic, It provides players with a fall back that is easily identifiable, guy has staff? then he's a mage, also Spirit blade still costs mana so it can become unavailable,
I disagree. Most of the time I simply equip whatever looks good on my characters. Even if it's not optimal. Same with weapons. Not everyone thinks the same and so as a result not everyone plays the same.
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