Ok, ocassionally that high can happen on wheelchair mage (it is from-to not really fixed value), 2h hammer will smack you for more than 92, if you (or horsie) are still alive not looking like a hedgehog from all those arrows.I still hit for 92 fulminated on my fat mage. This costs me virtually nothing to do damage like this.
On top of that cost nothing to level up mage to 100 on all viable skills could be a slight understatement on release, it will require decent amount of money+time since spurt will not bring you to 100s on all those crucial skills. Not to mention time invested a bit more than FF.
Smacking dummies with melee weapon is cheaper than diing the same with magic, not complaining its just fact.
Cast regs indeed cost nothing - luckilly devs havent made them as expensive as cronite sword