Chargen Mage Advice, Help me avoid the usual pitfalls! Options

[EnlitenedDespot]

I am distinctly interested in making a mage character work that doesn't have just 4-6 in every magical ability and 0 in everything else, as well as no gadgets due to no money and does nothing but hurls manaball to kill everything. I am trying to actually build this character and may post something shortly. I had a few questions about some things so I can ensure I avoid certain pitfalls or don't ignore good uses of abilities I think are worthless (as well as not passing up good opportunities). So, here we go:

-I hear all these ridiculous things about Spirits of Man. I've vaguely read a little bit about them in Street Magic but have no idea what it is that makes them so 'awesome.' Please enlighten me (and perhaps where to reference that information).

-As it stands, I'm leaning towards Sorcery 5 (get spec after chargen), Counterspelling 4 or 5 (spec after chargen), and Summoning 4 or 5 (dunno if I'll spec or what into). Based on this, I'm clearly leaving out some magical skills for the opportunity of having a character with some mundane ability. I wanted to ask,

-What's so awesome about Binding vs. Summoning besides the non-expiration of services? What can a bound spirit do that a summoned spirit can't do that is so awesome? Sustaining spells would be nice, and as far as I can tell this is only from Binding, right? I am leaning towards ignoring Binding at chargen partly based on the need to invest money into something that will still eventually expire (I hate burning money for disposable things if I can help it not to) and because the fluff just makes it sound like a heinous thing to do anyway. Anyway, why should I get Binding or not?

-Is ritual spellcasting worth it at all? Honestly, I'm not seeing the usefulness of the ability and I don't intend to roll around with 5 mage buddies capable of helping me with such a ritual, anyway.

-Banishing is relatively worthless, right? Assuming I have a Manabolt or Stunbolt spell, this is more effective in the physical realm or astral realm than Banishing, no? I just see myself using Banishing (even with a 4-5) and ending up getting a lot of drain without much effect.

-Can I ignore Assensing until post-char gen? I like the skill and kind of want it, but it's not fitting in well at the moment. Since I can't default, does this mean I can't tell jack diddly at all from astral perception or projection? That would suck...

Looking at making a Hermetic or Chaos Mage, I like the concept of Spirits of Man and I most likely want a Logic-based tradition. Anyhow, feel free to give me some advice. As it stands, I'm strapped for BP and can't even raise my Edge above the base 2 (base 2 for Human), so suggestions on what I can skimp on or what I shouldn't skimp on would be nice.