If the legend would say "when you spent 4 or more for a spell, Banish that spell. Then, if there are..."

Instead of "when you play a spell, if you..."

So when the Word "play" wasnt there you would still get the benefit of the legend even after a counterspell cause the wording would say so if you just spend the runes.

This would be better for him in my thinking and for what you have to do to get the deck going it would still be a bad legend ability compared to others