EDIT: Ninja'd

But swords have dat reach (but TBH I'm more a shortsword kind of person, which - along with the bow - is the Bound Weapon I'm gunning for)

Besides, Bound Daggers are still... Ebony quaility, IIRC?

And yeah, that last bit is pretty much what I mean (along with sensible alternative applications of certain spells, but I figure that can wait for later)