If we want to make Magic more beginner accessible (and I see no reason not to), Mana Evaporation isn't the spot to tackle. Make the most basic mana potions more easily available, perhaps through an NPC shop. Beginners can get by on the basic bolt spells rather reasonably. If you've just started and you're lacking the funds for the Firebolt and Lightningbolt spellbooks, Icebolt is still pretty effective during your early levels and can be used effectively alongside some backup combat style.
Also, for those who don't know, classes are a nice and inexpensive way to acquire the basic bolt spells.
http://wiki.mabinogiworld.com/index.php?title=Classes_and_Training&oldid=287894
I agree that you don't really need a wand as a beginner. It can up your damage, sure, but until you finally get advanced spells, there is no real need for one. If you worked your way to acquiring all of the pages you'll need for an advanced spell, then you are most likely capable of funding a wand to use for more difficult content. Maybe you can't fund those massive repair costs if you're using your wand all of the time, so save it for when you need it, and keep relying on those good ol' bolt spells. You'll eventually get to the point where you can fund a wand rather effectively.
I must admit that those repair costs are incredibly taxing on an aspiring mage. That being said, what if there was a cheaper, weaker option for aspiring mages to get instead? Maybe it can't upgrade beyond what it already is, but it could simply allow access to casting its element's advanced spell. The repair cost could be cheaper, and current wands would be the goal aspiring mages would strive for, but they could have a stepping stone to reach that point.
I feel like Mana Evaporation is a problem for 'advanced mages': those who have made it to the point where wands are commonly used. If the problems that people have with Magic occur as an aspiring mage or a beginner rather than as an 'advanced mage', I believe that Mana Evaporation is not the source of those problems.
I currently have no opinion on Mana Evaporation, as I have not yet achieved 'advanced mage' status. As an aspiring mage, I don't have the luxury of having consistent access to a wand without taking too massive of a blow to my bank account, so Mana Evaporation rarely comes up for me. I think Mana Evaporation is a topic that impacts those who can use a wand consistently, be they pure mage or not, so until I get to that point, I don't feel like any opinion I have on the matter is worth its salt. I haven't witnessed the full impact of it personally, yet. If we want to make Magic a more viable path to aspire to for beginners, however, I believe there are issues that need to be tackled, but Mana Evaporation is not one of them.