Limb removal is an effect that deliberately does not exist by default (called shots are an optional rule). Which makes Regenerate one of the most useless spells in the game, because it heals a condition that cannot happen in accordance with the written rules.
If you want it at all levels, then change the magic number from fifty hit points to X% of the target's HP, max fifty.
Regular means just aren't meant to have this level of lethality or easy permanent damage to it.
That aside, allowing for characters to easily lose limbs can be literally crippling to a character, especially at low levels.
Going off of these rules, does that mean the average level 1-4 PC is immune to dismemberment due to the 50 HP requirement? Even if they have Greater Called Shot (reduces the debilitating blow requirement to 40 hp) that would still mean that characters are immune to the effect of getting their hand chopped off.
If by "immune to dismemberment" you mean outright dying from damage then yes. If you want it to work for lower levels then just ignore 50HP requirement (i think it is made specifically to prevent lower level creatures from being mutilated), and maybe require it to be a critical.
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I had a Vorpal bastard sword once that we homebrewed to sever limbs on critical hits, decapitation on natural 20's.
You could have the captains carry vorpal swords, that will chop your arm off on any critical. Minions have to use called shots rules, and still critical to dismember.
Dismembering PC's is kinda twisted, it's right there with using the coup de grace against players.
People get pretty attached to their characters, if you make it impossible for someone to do what they wanted to do, you are subtracting from the fun, not just raising the stakes of the game.
Maybe you could modify some of the rules from Skull & Shackles to assign the penalties?
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Skull and Shackles has optional limb removal and wounding rules. I think the players guide (which has them) is even a free download.
Yep: PZO09000-10E Skull & Shackles Player's Guide. It is under the Peg Leg and Eye Patches on page 4.
It is always up to the GM what rules to use (home games). I would also say that anyone working with debilitating rules should work on a PERCENT of HP rather than a flat number. 50% of HP at level 1 is like 4 or 5. You get a near deadly wound, roll fortitude check to see if they cut anything off. At higher levels it becomes harder to chop things off you. This makes the most sense. (rather than having to kill a 1st level person 3x over just to get a finger off them)
This has the added benefit of making every combat dangerous and memorable. Remember when we started out and that sword gutted you aboard the Revenge? And the time the Fire Ball burnt all the hair off your back? Remember it? My back hair still hasn't grown back! And poor old Lucky still looks like a hell hound! Good times!
I have no qualms about allowing dismemberment of helpless characters, especially unconscious or dead ones. Be careful where you get caught stealing.
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Remember how you REALLY wanted to be a TWF but you got your arm chopped off after taking the first three feats? Ah, good times, we all love it when you can't do what you want in a fantasy game. Because real life isn't debilitating enough.
Making things memorable is one thing, ruining someone's ability to be the character they want is outside the duties of the GM. It better make sense, and it better be necessary for the story, in my opinion.
Cut off the TWF's arm, give him a chance to retrain out of his now useless feats. Give him Possessed Hand for free, and it's the key to whatever part of the plot, something like that, maybe.
If you can be healed back to complete, then the dismemberment is just a complication and inconvenience, and doesn't seem to add to the story at all, just slows down the game.
Once again, just my opinion.
In my experience, players get attached to characters and things that would force the character to retire aren't generally what players want.
Under the vast majority of circumstances dismembered means character just retires. If that is what the players (not the GM, the PLAYERS) want, go for it.
Or pays 910 gold to have a seventh-level spell cast.
A GM who upsets their players is just playing with himself.
If the enemy was already disabled or otherwise helpless then yeah, it just happens. If it's mid-combat...I don't have a great answer. Usually I would just kill an enemy or knock them out. I have captured enemies and then broken hands or things to that affect to prevent spell casting. But I've never been too worried about not being able to do it mid-combat.
They way you did it doesn't seem like a problem though.