1. Start off with the ability to iaijutsu as standard, having to waste a full is complete bullshit.
2. At 10th level, you can combine your iaijustu strike with a charge.
3. If you confirm a critical iaijustu strike, or if the strike drops the target below zero, move to the adjacent space of the target opposite the one you currently reside in, moving through them without provoking aoo. You can do this to any creature up to one size category larger than you.
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That would be cool, that last one is eh, it is definitely portrayed in anime and whatnot but I personally hated it. I always figured that they drew it that way either because they didnt want to draw out the actual sword swinging or simply dindt know how to make it look good. IRL no one would ever run past their target, presenting them their back (unless propelled like on horseback) and then just 'sit' there allowing dramatic tention to build before (usually) exploding in a shower of blood. I always thought it looked like crap TBH. I got much more enjoyment out of the actual portrayal of the swords swinging, people blocking, and actual meaningful hits landing. Check out Beserker or Kingdom for good mangas that have good sword combat scenes.
End rant.
Back to your idea, ya I love it. #2 makes perfect sense and I agree with it completely.
Iaijutsu strike is such a weak ability especially when you compare it to what you replace, a second character (the mount) with its own attacks, its own feats, its own skills, its own slot in initiative order and it can even flank. What do you get? Sneak attack damage usable once a fight, against 1 target with ridiculous stipulations. Just to use it, you have your blade sheathed, stand next to your target, yell at him, forgo all your actions just to attack once. Oh ya, you cannot have attacked the target before and you can only use it against a target once, and only 3 times by level 10, as if it was that overpowered.
#1. I would honestly remove the associated action completely. Just make it a part of whatever attack action you use. Make it so that you can only use it against a challenged foe and make it so that it can only be used with the attack directly following you unsheathing your sword. You might HAVE to give the sword saint quick draw as a bonus feat to make it work tho.
If a character is willing to put his weapon away inbetween every attack (remember, a move action) or is willing to carry around multiple weapons (making each one have weaker enchantments), let him. It still is not nearly as powerful as a raging barbarian vital strike/furious finishing or an archer full attacking or a ranger full attacking every turn. I doubt it is even much stronger than a rogue when he gets his sneak attack off.
Considering that the entire archetype is BASED of of something that can only be used once a combat and is not that strong, this isnt that bad of an idea for a change. This would also allow him to use it with other abilities/feats like charging (which would look awesome!) or vital strike or even sunder (cutting your targets blade and following through to the holder would be neat).
As for #3, You heard my reasons why I dont like it ^.^
To recap.
#1 Sword saint gets quickdraw at 1st level.
#2 Iaijutsu strike can only be used against the target of your challenge and only in conjunction with quickdraw.
Volia! It becomes a little more front loaded but should still be good considering the limitation of how many challenges you can preform.
Pfft, realism is for losers. I play games to avoid boring reality. As for the quickdraw thing, I like it. The extra damage is really underpowered for 1/combat, especially because it scales the same as sneak attack damage, which can be used whenever, given the right circumstances.
Iaijutsu is a real fighting technique though, so saying it lacks realism is a bit silly. It has something to do with building force against the inside of your scabbard on the draw so that you strike very quickly IIRC and is really hard to use effectively.
That said, mechanically I agree it needs a tweak. First I'll say again that I like Paizo's Iaijutsu over the other iterations in say 3.0 OA. There, all you needed was for your target to be flat footed, so having tight restrictions means they constantly aren't drawing over and over again(a good thing imo). And as I like my samurai flavor to be separate from horse-manship, I'll take the Sword Saint over a mount and mounted archery.
Now if I were to fix the Sword Saint... I'd boost the damage it does without making it easier to use. Either bring it up to 1d6 per level(bringing it inline with most blast spells) or institute a flat amount of damage for the first hit(like a paladin). In the latter's case I'd say they get 4 times their challenge bonus to damage for the first hit.