Buffy started almost without magic. Yes, there was the episode The Witch but then there weren't other mentions of magic until the spell Jenny first and Willow later used to restore Angel's soul (or so I remember). Then some spell here and there but generally speaking magic wasn't so important.

It all changed later with Willow's 'addiction' and after that it was like everything was about magic. Witches became more powerful than slayers and this imo took something away from the show, as it was originally conceived. Now in the comics there is no magic but because of this it's even more important.

I have no idea what kind of plot the writers could come up with but I think I would have liked it more if the magic was left marginal as it was at the beginning... what do you think? agree? disagree?