How to Rend Fiends and Immolate People: A Guide to Sorcery

[EvilAnagram]

Neither of which applies to Mage Hand or Message, unless you're playing a combat-heavy/oriented campaign or character.

They fall under, "its effects will not heavily influence your ability to affect the game." Even in non-combat games, Minor Illusion and Friends will be more useful.

What you just described is perfect for Mold Earth in its short-time-available battlefield prep role.

A cantrip whose only use (which, I might add, is a combat use) might come up once in a campaign goes well beyond only being occasionally useful.