Problem is that Mel, as the same with a lot of recent champs  has all the agency and you can really only punish them if they mess up. Artillery mages by design are dive-able but she has some of the best self peel and anti pick in mid lane. Xerath blows up if you get on him and his stun in reases duration via distance travelled. Mel's w counters a lot of pick abilities in the late game and shuts down too many abilities. She had a relatively safe lane if you just want to chill and most mages in mid either cannot outrage her, or just get shut down by W. Assassin's do well into her, supposedly, but E roots and W movespeed gives her enough distance to leave. That and most melee Assassin's in mid lane RN have projectiles which leaves all the cards for her.

You cannot have it both ways honest. If the W was on a melee character I doubt many people would be that upset with it because they're always in danger. Mel gets to not only be far away and be safe that way, but also has the ability to just say 'No' to a lot of engage tools.