Tiered spell fx: We all start at tier 2 (lvl 24)?
 

lvl 1 >> lvl 24 >> lvl 39

Should be the tiered spellfx progression system that's classic.

Any idea why we start @ lvl 24's tier 2 spell particles? Is it a Titanium client limitation, bug, or a meta reason?

Because of client limitations. Telin has explained it a few times, you can try a search.