I think that using more tadpoles and the powers should have more consequences/impact storywise. I mean, the emperor wants you to become like him, an Illithid that retains independence/personality. I think that from his perspective, that is something good. And the more powers you use, the more Illithid you should be. And that should mean different reactions/dialogs. I understand that having this would mean a lot more work. But the easier way to implement it is that by the time you have to choose to become fully Illithid or not, well, if you choose to use the astral Illithid, you kind of made that choice already. And choosing not to become Illithid should require some difficult will saves. And the more powers you have, the more difficult the saves. After all, part of you is already changed/illithid. In fact, at the end, even if the tadpoled die, the parts of your brain already changed, might remain changed. What is done is done.
But I don't think that would be implemented even if I would like it. It is probably too much work. XD
