User blog comment:Deshiba/Mana Items./@comment-2248060-20140922115526/@comment-4022742-20140922221659

I'm not that concerned with a flat mana item having that effect at all. As you mentioned Chalice of harmony, a 1% mana regeneration for 1% of missing mana passive is going to be stronger in the long run then any flat mana that I can fathom. And if we are talking mana and resilience, gives mana, health and sustain. The only reason to actually get a mana item that also gives MR in the early game, is if you are loosing to a mage.

As for it being a buff to, undoubtedly true, but not really an issue with the item concept. It's more an innate problem with his design, imo. "If the whole world calls you insane, you might just not be the only sane person alive"