No offense but I think you just read the title of this tread and just said no, and assumed I wanted SMN to basically be the new SCH.
No offense taken. But your idea now sounds even less useful. If our wards lack potency, adding a JA raising it occasionally is just silly. That is like putting a band aid on a person shot by a rifle. You need to fix the problem, not add something that is occasionally negating it.

You'd do much better calling them stances as well, and let them remain 2 hours active. Increased BP:Ward potency for 2 hours would be a good deal. Improved BP:Ward potency for one pact would be terrible. (Unless it always was ready, and in that case it is better to make it a trait, and in that case it is better to make it a permanent update)