There isnt much need to replace basics with cards like this in Commander, but if the secondary effect is something your deck actually cares about, you might take a second look
Good wizards with ETB triggers to copy include Aether Channeler and Snapcaster Mage
A creature has been dealt excess damage if one or more sources deal more damage to it than the minimum amount of damage required to be lethal damage
Related With Final Fantasy on the way to MTG as an upcoming Universes Beyond set, Wizards of the Coast may have wanted to get a head-start on introducing playable cacti, before Cactuar arrive and inevitably take the game by (needle) storm.
Nowadays, the opposite is true
If you want something powerful, here's our pick of the best MTG commanders, but the golden rule is to choose something you find fun