One thing I would point out is that Magical lineage + close range + ray of frost+ rime spell gives you an extra attack that includes a no-save entangle that you can spam over and over and can come online by 3rd level. Not too shabby.
Overall, I like close range as a low-level arcana since a) it doesn't cost arcane pool like the other early arcana and b) it gives you more options. Admittedly, you'll need to use blended learning to really take advantage of it (at least until more splatbooks come out that increase the magus spell list) but you'll probably be doing that a lot anyway.