"I've played plenty of low level D&D. I think it's a matter of expectation and setting. A level 1 party are a ragtag group of nobodies. The best your little village had to offer, sure, but not masters of the universe. Everyone is weak and squishy, fighters included. The wizard is just out of his apprenticeship. Why should he have a limitless supply of arcane energy.
But that's D&D. Other games and settings do it differently. I don't mind low level repeatable powers. It's when games try to make the all-day repeatable powers equal in strength to hitting things with swords that things get screwy. Then they take away the big guns because now the casters are OP. They can already do okay in every fight, why do they need horrid wilting or dominate monster. Just make their AOE's bigger and their damage damagier. Don't outshine the fighters, though. Ugh.
Anyway, it comes down to preference. I already said, I don't mind when it's the wizards turn and I think, "Hmm... the fighters can probably handle this and it might not be worth burning my spells on. Let me move behind cover but stay close in case I need to step in." It doesn't make me feel like the wizard is useless. Even if it did, there are so many other options for actions in D&D that are either in games already or could be implemented. Use a wand or magic item. Ready a counterspell. Use your cantrips (3.5). Aid another. Force a potion down the downed guys throat. And yes, shoot your crossbow or use a sling."
A-fuckin-men!