Turning the Hexblade "Patron" into modular powers

[Segev]

See, that's the thing.

I see lots of DMs either modifying the (original) Hexblade, or just flat out banning that Patron from their games.

I like what the Hexblade does, but I do change it so that it doesn't become the "go to" Gish class.

Those are valid solutions if you don't think it serves a good/useful/valid purpose. This thread's impetus accepts the premise that Hexblade provided a needed patch, even if it did so poorly.

Now, there's discussion to be had over whether Hexblade really did provide a needed patch. But if it didn't, that means an entirely different approach than what I'm proposing in this thread. So for comparison's sake, if the changes made here allow the same playability of concept as Hexblade, but without the silly Patron, while still being equally well-balanced, I think they're doing the job I want them to.

After all, Gish-ing isn't supposed to be super easy to achieve.

Why not? It's as valid a play-style as straight fighter or straight caster.