I'd rather just have longer range. I think that'd solve most of the 'cast limit break and die' problem.

As it is now, you have to be very very careful with it, and there is no guarantee that your act of casting it won't change things. Like one issue for casters with the circular aoe is that everyone else on your own team will often see that circle as area denial for the other team and use it as a good time to retreat, leaving you to die.