That's called "balance". You get to DRAMATICALLY improve your character... at significant cost. And let's be honest.. if it wasn't a dramatic improvement you wouldn't be respecing despite the losses.
It's not a dramatic improvement. If my build is so broken that respec will dramtically improve it then I've already re-rolled way before I get to level 17.
So I wouldn't say it's called balance at all.
I'd quite like to tweak a couple of things, but the cost is completely unbalanced and prohibitive.
I don't see how anyone at that stage of the game would want to lose upwards of 10 skills just for the sake of unlearning one of the first talents. My wizard would lose access to 35 spells. That's not balanced, it's starting from scratch.
