Cantrips should be as written in the 5e rules. Spells in general should be. They cover any situation you want and you should be able to choose your own unique toolkit. Want sustained damage? Use cloud of daggers. Want big aoe? Use fireball. Want X choose Y. The spell selection covers anything you want, including surfaces. Your choices hence matter with 5e rules.
Right now the player choice matters less. You are a surface-mancer.
