The baseline isn't great. the body with lifelink/anthem for 4 isn't bad though. at 6 it is nice unless your opponent has a bolt. Worth keeping an eye on.
In recent days, if I needed to make a cut and its not that black and white, I normally cut the less interesting card/ less replaceable effect.
I assume you mean more replaceable effect?
That's the consistency vs variability argument in a nutshell. Are you aiming to have high variability drafts/games or very consistent drafts/games. It's good to have a bit of both I think, and striking that balance can be hard. Should I really run llanowar elves, fyndhorn elves, and elvish mystic as another example.
I prefer Firebolt to Burst Lightning as I'm more likely to get the extra damage if the game drags long with Firebolt even if Firebolt was in my opening hand. The same isn't true of burst lightning as I'm likely to not get that extra damage if it is in my opening hand since I may need to use it.
I don't understand how paying 2 life is worse than letting the opponent draw a card.
For me this is a definitive include. I prefer unconditional removal, especially when the conditional removal relies on haphazard things like creature type.
Imo above Power Work Kill and Go for the Throat.
Hitting planeswalkers is really nice. I agree this is better than power word kill, and go for the throat.
I run some of these cards, but understand why they may have low play rates. The companion mechanic can be troublesome, and with the errata some people just don't want to deal with it. Many people don't run un-cards in their cubes unless it is an un-cube. True-Name may be banned just based on power or people not liking Protection effects.
Archon of Cruely, Hullbreacher, Force of Negation, and Skyclave Apparition are all solid, but there are other options for these slots. All good cards though.
I really don't think Dragon's Rage Channeler is that good in cube. The delirium is hard to trigger.
Divest > Despise > Check for Traps > Agonizing Remorse
Divest vs Despise really depends on the count of artifacts vs planeswalkers, but even unpowered you probably have more non-creature artifacts than planeswalkers.
Frost Titan > Ethereal Forager > Agent of Treachery
3/2 for 2 in white. With upside on etb and attacks. With potential for good evasion.
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite vs Iona, Shield of Emeria
I assume you mean more replaceable effect?
That's the consistency vs variability argument in a nutshell. Are you aiming to have high variability drafts/games or very consistent drafts/games. It's good to have a bit of both I think, and striking that balance can be hard. Should I really run llanowar elves, fyndhorn elves, and elvish mystic as another example.
Hitting planeswalkers is really nice. I agree this is better than power word kill, and go for the throat.
Archon of Cruely, Hullbreacher, Force of Negation, and Skyclave Apparition are all solid, but there are other options for these slots. All good cards though.
I really don't think Dragon's Rage Channeler is that good in cube. The delirium is hard to trigger.
I'm curious about your experience with Omnath.
Divest vs Despise really depends on the count of artifacts vs planeswalkers, but even unpowered you probably have more non-creature artifacts than planeswalkers.
Frost Titan > Ethereal Forager > Agent of Treachery
Skinrender > Boneshreder