Familiars typically give a skill or save bonus - what do Improved familiars bring to the table for their Wizard?
Typically better combat abilities.
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I always did find it intriguing that they didn't give a bonus, see that the lesser familiars did.
I'm wondering if them giving skill bonuses (or saves, or hp, etc...) would have over balanced the feat itself. Especially considering it's basically a feat that takes something away from your character, even if it gives something AWESOME in return.
I would like to see the opinion of some of the developers on this, because I've been debating personally whether I should give a bonus for the improved familiars as a house rule.
A familiar is at best a minor bonus, you can get a similar bonus via feat (or even trait). What you are getting in return is something that is geared towards combat. Your typical improved familiar as at worst, better AC, better stats and better combat abilities. In some cases it has its own spell like abilities and exceptional abilities. A pseudodragons poison can be devastating at low levels, not to mention an imp with invisibility.
Any of the above "bump" in stats would easily equate to a feat by itself for the typical normal familiar, but you are getting several of them for the cost of improved familiar feat. You are easily gaining more than you are "losing" if you want to put it in those terms.
What it comes down to, if you plan on your familiar being active, improved familiar is a given, it increases the familiar survivability when using it as a spell delivery system. If the familiar is nothing more than a "stat stick", the feat isn't something you would be interested in.