SP AI definitely still questionable.

[Frostmourne27]

Maybe not as a black and white rule, but still, it's not really worth it, since the computer will rarely do sensible things with them. Bless effects aren't that much better at eight as opposed to six (+1 attack, defence, 5% extra regen etc) comparedd to the points needed. wrt path boosting, there are other ways around that - Death six mage can forge scepter of dark regency, and then cast utterdark. Without artifacts: ring of sorcery, skullface and skull staff - more expensive, and needs an astral mage, but hey - computer probably won't forge sensible path boosters in any event.