Making low-level casters relevant

[WinWin]

Silent Image. Use your imagination.

edit: Item creation can help. Familliars can be useful for scouting. The fact you don't require MW arms and armour means you have more resources to dedicate to unusual purchases.

Alchemical items are a decent choice. Crafting them requires caster levels in any event. they are usually touch attacks, so that helps with hitting the majority of low level challenges. Even something like a tanglefoot bag is helpful. Alchemical Fire is a 2 round 'light' spell and a weapon rolled into one. Even something like chalk and a bag of marbles have their uses in the hands of an intelligent character.