The discount per two points of magic isn't the reason to get the (better) Ways. Those are the Enhancements and Metamagics made available once you're on the Way. Barrage can be worth the cost of admission for a throwing adept of the Warrior's Way because it gets you defense penalties and multiple-targeting that's usually unavailable without stepping onto the dangerous path of explosives. Speaker's Way has the metamagic needed if you absolutely must have the highest possible social roll (one skill only). So take a look into getting access to the book.<br/><br/>And possibly Forbidden Arcana. It can't directly hurt you.