The value of having them or drawing them however declines as the game progresses, although with Misstep it is not because the counter becomes easier to avoid but because the targets for it have been used or cease to be overly relevant themselves
A modern skeleton looks like: Threats (1214): Bitterblossom 4, Spellstutter Sprite 4, Mistbind Clique 3, Brazen Borrower 3 Disruption (1012): Thoughtseize, Inquisition of Kozilek, Fatal Push, plus 46 counterspells Card advantage: a couple of Vendilion Clique or a planeswalker like Jace Lands (22): Dimir duals + Faerie Conclave + a Mutavault It rewards tight, instant-speed play exactly the skill faeries are famous for
Copying abilities is always fun, and Verrak, Warped Sengir and The Peregrine Dynamo both let you do so in interesting ways
Once your end step begins, it's too late to gain life in order to cause this ability to trigger