I haven't read the full thread but here's how I view it
your tough spot is Mage, which gives you one set of bars for magic usage, and you lose 1 refresh.
You buy spells to work with at perhaps slightly less than buying specs and firearms, with standard upkeep, because you need components or a special diet. All spells go off of the 10 charges, so clairvoyance (using Ubiq to contact someone) and an energy bolt (firearm attack), both use that same amount, Magic is not refreshed during a job. So it gives a bit of versatility, with the counter that you can't refresh it very easily during a job. Perhaps there's a potion out there that allows that, but I'd give it a cost similar to Suppressin-K