So, here's a thought...
What if Magus, as a class, didn't get access to the "Cast a Spell" action. Also assume they can't gain it for their Magus spells via dedications/archetypes.
What if the Magus could only cast a spell after conditions were fulfilled. For instance a successful Strike, being hit by an enemy, blocking with a shield, etc...
Do people like the idea of instead of making magus kinda bad at magic, but able to use it all the time, they require conditions to use their magic but are instead actually good at it?
An example of this approach, assume the basic trigger is hitting with a Strike.
After hitting with a Strike, the Magus can cast a spell. The spell loses the [Manipulate] trait.
Or, alternatively, require the Magus to take a 1-action "charge up" ability, which charges them for 1 minute or until a spell is cast. Then as above, they can cast while charged up if they succeed a Strike. In this case, I'd also suggest adding some kind of bonus to the spell, such as costing 1 fewer actions; or alternatively giving some small benefit while "charged".
Possibly as above, except the Magus needs to make a special 1-action Strike action unique to the class to potentially trigger the spell. Maybe they get better versions later on in the class via feats or automatic progression.
The second and third of the above suggestions are based loosely on the Swashbuckler's Panache/Precise Strike/Finisher mechanic. Take an action to gain panache, get bonus dmg while panache is active, and lose it to add damage to a finisher blow (which only consumes panache if it connects).
So, thoughts?
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I like my magus to actually be able to cast spells, even out of combat though.
Like, spellstriking is a perk that helps mesh their casting and fighting, it isn't their only reason for existing.
I'd much prefer getting regular spells and some magi only cantrips than abandoning regular casting altogether.
Even in Pathfinder 1 the Magus was a very Battle-centric class when it came to spellcasting. Just look at their spell list.
I feel like that idea only works within the context of Swashbuckler because it is something focused entirely on combat. The whole point of Panache is to enable quick bursts of movement in combat and powerful combat actions. Magic on the other hand has many out of battle uses. I feel like depriving Magus of those entirely would harm the already very fragile identity of the class even more.
Also, at that point, you wouldn't even be playing a mage knight, you'd be playing someone with magic powers that only truly awaken in battle.
At this point, this is starting to sound more like a Bloodrager instead of a Magus.
So while the class you describe sounds like a decent idea, I don't think it is what Magus should aim to be.
I can see that. I guess I'd just rather see a martial with some magical ability attached to their sword-slinging than a martial with what feels like tacked-on magical casting that doesn't mesh with their martial abilities.
I didn't have a problem with Solarian abilities given that they're a non-caster. In fact, I'd love to see something similar in PF2.
However, Magus *needs* to be the 50-50 martial-caster, instead of multiclassing getting you 75-25 either way.
Abandoning casting to solve mechanical problems with the first pass of the playtest would be entirely losing the thread of the class. It'd be like setting out to make a pizza and half way through switching to baking a cake. Like, those are both good things, but people are counting on getting their pizza.