The closest thing I have to backfires is that I tend to mismanage energy like whoa. I have a hard time sensing and raising it (meaning I like my spells to be the set-it-and-forget-it variety), and often when I
do tap into it, I "overdose" and end up either super high or super depressed. I don't think that comes from mixing techniques, just from having a hard time with energy.

Same here! That's the worst party of my experiences so far, is not knowing what my limits are (or if there are any set limits that do exist). One of the advantages of following a traditional route, I imagine, is that there are set standards on such things. Forging your own path can be quite tiresome, and possibly perilous.
That said, one way isn't better than the other. Just different. However, I can see possible conflicts arising other than energy related, if the practitioner is not careful.
Thank you for starting this thread, because I'm curious to see what other posters have to say on this!
