While there should always be options for this, it basically allows you to break the rule of one card in your Commander deck, and because its an Artifact, it can go in any deck
Skyclave Apparition has proven to not only be the best creature in Modern, but a pretty good creature in Standard and Legacy, too
I even got my wish from that set review: they released Shaman of the Pack in an Explorer Anthology
The most common way to take out a creature this large was to use black removal spells, and Sol'kanar was both black and had swampwalk to punish the owner of the spell for looking at him funny
If you need to hit your 4th land drop this turn Elder is of no help unless you happen to have a free way to sacrifice it
I should add an again there, since we on the Commander Rules Committee got some time with early versions of these cards last year