Counterspell will always be useful in control decks. No matter how annoying cards that cant be countered are, there will always be other important cards that you can counter. I have seen lock down control like this work time and time again. The only thing that I would suggest is to find some early game card advantage cards. Anything that will let you draw should be good because control decks always need the card advantage. card:Judge's Familiar might also be a good addition do this deck.

Yeah, things are kinda tough with Ponder and Preordain being gone. I was thinking Forbidden Alchemy, but then I'd have to find room for Snapcasters, and it's already pretty crowded. Would you say that card:Judge's Familiar is an auto 4-of? Like Lingering Souls in esper control?

I could see card:Judge's Familiar easily being a 3 or 4 of. Card advantage will be difficult now but I will try to find something that could work for you.