It's a good decent enough spawnpoint and paladin can just as much have a solid book with it as the cleric mages (imo much better than priest). With his access to ballista, war spells and armor he can react fast when rushed and he is the only mage that can intercept things to protect smaller creatures like archers (and easily guard with his armor) or the temple itself. In the long run he can use aura's as free buffs for all creatures in his zone so that's even better when you have many small creatures. If not by melee attacking, you can also gain valor by healing, intercepting, the occasional attack spell and by using your challange on creatures that will attack non-mage stuff.
The big angels indeed either need a book around them (Valshalla especially) or should cover a weakness in your book. Samandriel is great for nonliving and Selesius is an amazing counter to flying. However, since almost all holy mages already have counters to undead and have flyers they don't fill any gaps for them. So I agree with Romeo that most holy mages are better off without them.
However, I do have a druid book with Selesius to push/counter flying and I used to have a forcemaster with Samandriel for necromancers and generally when she was action starved and had mana to spare.
You make a lot of good points!
Some things I noticed.
1. If your intercepting, it means your in the archers zone, which means not hitting things most likely. Now you likely would intercept at the beginning then transition into attacking, but still note worthy imo.
2. Which of "swarm" level 1/2 creatures are actually good in a fight? I'm still waking up, but I don't remember many who are.
Of the ones I do remember
All of the level 1 clerics: Without HA, none of them are very good in a fight. More support
Monk: Same deal
Sharpshooter: Personally, I don't think the guys are that good. Range 0-1 is not good.
White cloaked knight: Again, not convinced. His stats make him a worse to.ber wolf, and who uses attack spells on them?
Red helm: He's pretty good, but I still don't really like how challenged interacts.
Light of Dawn: Very solid support that can actually help in a fight. No glaring issues.
Lowland unicorn: I have never played with this card so no thoughts.
The sweeping angel: I have never played with this card so no thoughts.
Did I forgot any other than Cass who needs no analysis.