Well, early game is more of you trying to survive the elements, not to master them, imo.
Also, the use of portals and the special meads you make is basically magic early on.
Lastly, Mistlands is not end-game at all, i would say it is at the end of mid-game. There are still 3 more biomes to be fleshed out (Ashlands, DeepNorth & Ocean) which will define end-game.
I wouldn't mind if more things get added later, but this game wasn't meant to be played as a mage from start, enemies at lower stages don't need all that magic to be dealt with. It makes sense we start geting mage education as we are getting closer to the end to face the worst things that are coming...