Kate, there's a crucial difference between magic and mentalism...
Magicians entertain the public, mentalists entertain other mentalists
As for "so much more"... well... perhaps in the minds of mentalists, as they get another smug warm glow down the pub because they somehow predicted that when they asked their mate to name a geometric shape they said "triangle"... wow, spooky... but there's really only one "effect", isn't there? Whether you want to say I made a psychic prediction, or I used suggestion and hidden influence, it all seems to play out the same - the spectator makes a choice, and the mentalist smugly reveals they "knew" what was going to happen. Which the spectator *COUGH* believes...
Hell, at least with magic we can make a card come to the top of a deck AND make a sponge ball disappear... and re-appear, if you're really lucky!
And I've yet to actually have a professional mentalist pointed out to me who bases their acts on psychological forces and hidden suggestion... all the guys I've seen on TV and shows etc. use stuff pretty much straight out of Corinda
Ian the Magic Ian - be my guest and "get into" mentalism, but please, hlease: don't be
boring... come up for air occasionally, and check to see if your audiences eyes are glazing over after the 6th "demonstration of connections and coincidence"...