Sorry for my late reply as things have been a bit crazy on my end, but yeah I am glad you found the deck interesting. I enjoy all aspects of the game but lately I have been enjoying Standard and Historic...and I did find out that sadly some of the cards you mentioned are not historic legal, though they appear to be fine for modern so I may actually recreate the deck for that mode. You have a very valid point about the mutate and human interaction, it definitely works better with nonhumans.
Essence Warden being another 1 drop etb lifegain is honestly more than enough reason for me to want to do that, but the fact that it can be mutated onto as well is a major plus side. I learned quite a bit of new cards for this deck thanks to you, and I am much appreciative !!