Half the fun about destruction is impact. I'd find destruction very boring without it. However stunning dragons is a bit too strong, especially at about 50% rate it seems. I think the chance to stun would be balanced at about 20%-30%.

I play on legendary with a mod that makes destruction do +100% damage and it feels balanced (otherwise its terribad) . I guess that would make it equal master difficulty damage. If you think destruction is strong play it on play it on master/legendary and dont use magicka free casting.

Thanks to the terribad cost scaling of the higher-tier spells, you generally have no choice but to invest in cost reduction enchantments. At least in Oblivion and Morrowind you could tailor your spell-list to your liking, and you generally could find decent unique items (Denstangmer's Ring, Robe of the Drake's Pride, Spellturn Cloak, Mundane Ring).

Generally true. The only way to make it work is to rigorously avoid leveling anything but Destruction so that you top out at around level 19. I've tried this and it works but I don't think many players would enjoy it. I'm a leveling minimalist and I didn't even like it.

Wow, I thought this thread might have more to it then play on easy, magic isn't weak when your foes die quicker then a mayfly and hit weak as one too. (Yes, expert is easy)