it's far more efficient to simply CC stuff and let your physical damage dealers rip them to pieces though IMO
and grease is devastating from level 1
Some enemies like Gargoyles are outright immune to Grease. As to "efficient" that depends. My fire sorcerer with draconic line and Cotw mod can pump out 5d4 Burning Hands from the get go. That is 12-13 damage on average which one shots basically everything the first 2 levels that does not make its saving throw. Level 4 I can switch to Burning Arc for Spell specialization which leaves me with 5d4 Burning Hands and 7d6 BAs.
Grease even on just Challenging and Greater Spell Focus is not as reliable as people want to make it out to be, especially against enemies with really good dex saves. Also with Grease much of your physical damage then must come from ranged physical damage dealers and how many are there really? Most of your standard companions are either casters or melee. Melee and Grease does not mix well unless you base your party entirely on reach weapons and. Grease is more of a safe option but it is not the fastest way to bring down enemies since prone gives you a +4 AC on prone enemies making them much harder to hit early on.
Evocation is good, I don't debate this. Note I didn't write it sucks, as opposed to most other schools
Only... do you really need Spell Specialization to land those spells (as long as you target the right save - mostly meaning Relex trough a large part of the game)? You sure don't need Spec to fire Evocation rays.
I acknowledge you may use it to ramp Evo progression. It might even be a best deal when soloing. But IMO its not best for regular party play. Early spell slots are precious and damage spells are a bit of a waste in most cases (again, early game).
Mass Icy Prison is end game. Scirocco is party unfriendly and also exploitative, same as Stinking Cloud.
Regarding Grease, few enemies are immune to Prone effects. Even those that are used to provoke AoOs regardless - not sure if this is still the case.
Enemies have MINUS 4 AC vs melee when Prone (+4 vs ranged). Melee and Grease DO mix - you just have to be careful.
Regarding Glitterdust and immune to Blind. Again, really? That doesn't happen much. Also its fantastic that it targets Will...
The Pitts are absolutely fantastic. They can extend the fight annd you also have to be careful around them? Well, don't use them every fight. Don't use them when you don't need to. But they can absolutely save your skin vs many nasties.
Chains of Light is top single target CC.