Definitely not me.
I prefer either my first commander, or more likely if it is possible, one of my low-level mages, so I can boost him with Crystal Shield in mid-game (with a lot of reinvigoration items
);not one of my best high-level mages, because you must choose either smiting or casting usefull spells.
P.S. : I only play SP games, for fun, and nothing else. So, don't see anything über-strategic-advice in all of it
QXel