This is a cool way to balance the card that it keeps it as a 1-mana effect
The core idea is that a creature with Prepared carries a spell with it, and under the right conditions, that creature can cast that spell
Last One Standing 4 mana is the bar for wrath effects, which isn't surprising since the name comes from the gold standard, Wrath of God
I like big life swings as ways to buy extra turns, and if youre playing with counters, buffing the Rancher with his innate Vigilance is also a good payoff
When reflecting on the last decade, I remember the weddings and the deaths, the infrequent snows and consistent thunderstorms, and the brutal Prerelease losses and victories snatched by cards that became lasting favorites or temporary nemeses
Conclusion To me, Lifelink has always been one of the more satisfying mechanics in Magic because it does something players never get tired of: not losing the game