Can you think of any self-range spell (other than Shadow Blade) that you would make the same ruling for?
I found a lot of Touch-range spells that bestowed no effect upon the caster, but no self-range ones.
Produce Flame. Ensnaring Strike. Hail of Thorns. [whatever] Smite. Flame Blade. Mirror Image. Scrying. Others I won't bother to list. Generally, spells channeled through weapon attacks or spells that create something separate from the caster.
It's Eberron, not ebberon.
It's not high magic, it's wide magic.
And it's definitely not steampunk. The only time steam gets involved is when the fire and water elementals break loose.