I can see how banning flicker cards could be good because they make for frustrating games - however, that would also kill a lot of decks like UW control...I like astrolabe because it allows for multicolour decks, so I wouldn't bann it.
Is it better than Damping Sphere? That card has been an all-star for me in the sideboard, because it is so disruptive to so many decks while being a bit harder to remove than a creature.
Blessed Alliance has been pretty terrible for me, sacrifice vs target removal that does not put the creature in the graveyard is a huge deal. Timely does much better as a life gaining stabiliser and I personally love it in the maindeck.
Terminus is good because in modern you need to be able to cheese opponents out of the game with the 'nutdraw', you basically need to have the option to win if you get lucky - it's the sad truth of the format that most people won't admit. For most combo decks this is some unbeatable draw like getting three phoenix or hollow one out on t2, for us that is ripping a terminus off the top and clearing the opponents board. Previously, UW could cheese games by using spreading seas but that is way too fair these days and does nothing against the best decks. Terminus was previously unplayable cause you couldn't put it back on top but Jace makes it playable, so in my opinion I think it makes sense to keep it in the deck. The old versions of UW that I used to play always felt too 'fair', so I am going to continue packing Terminus for now. Of course I also understand how annoying it is when Terminus basically makes you force to mulligan, but that is why you play some extra sweepers to round out the package and let you survive till you can hardcast one.
Terminus is good because in modern you need to be able to cheese opponents out of the game with the 'nutdraw', you basically need to have the option to win if you get lucky - it's the sad truth of the format that most people won't admit. For most combo decks this is some unbeatable draw like getting three phoenix or hollow one out on t2, for us that is ripping a terminus off the top and clearing the opponents board. Previously, UW could cheese games by using spreading seas but that is way too fair these days and does nothing against the best decks. Terminus was previously unplayable cause you couldn't put it back on top but Jace makes it playable, so in my opinion I think it makes sense to keep it in the deck. The old versions of UW that I used to play always felt too 'fair', so I am going to continue packing Terminus for now. Of course I also understand how annoying it is when Terminus basically makes you force to mulligan, but that is why you play some extra sweepers to round out the package and let you survive till you can hardcast one.