Cryptic Command would still be a versatile and powerful card even if you always had to chose counterspell as one of the options but if that were the case you go from a card with 6 options to one with 3
There are so many commanders that care about casting things from exile nowadays: Faldorn, Dread Wolf HeraldFaldorn, Dread Wolf Herald, Prosper, Tome-BoundProsper, Tome-Bound, Passionate ArchaeologistPassionate Archaeologist, Laelia, the Blade ReforgedLaelia, the Blade Reforged
The main mood of the works is monotonous
So, use Prismite to pay and get a blue mana, and copy Irencrag Feat with Nivix Guildmage
Then, there's Panharmonicon , a powerhouse from the Kaladesh block that duplicates ETB triggers for creatures and artifacts alike