Amazingly, I think this class is pretty cool, and doesn't need a huge amount of change. That said, the lore sbout inner gates sort of reminded me of mediæval mystics, or of alchemists of the sort that existed before the scientific method. Perhaps another way to explain it would be to say if the kineticist is an avatar fantasy, I'd like to play morebof a guru Pathik type, though with more western or chinese influence than indian.
It'd be really cool to have some options for a more mystic kineticist. I don't really know what form that might take, and my own ideas are only half formed, but if you have any, it'd be great to hear them.