I like where you are going with this. I'm not certain where I would take it,(probably farther than anyone else but that's me) but I do like the ability of an elector or for that matter his champion, to extend the concept of Kurt helborg to other provinces than Reikland. If elector Counts have each a court why wouldn't they all have a champion, executioner, high court wizard, arch bishop/ ecclessiarch or dean of engineers etc. each of whom is a lord class character in his own right and able to be made into a special character by a fluff minded player. More to that why would these special characters exclusively be in the court of an elector they could be rivals to the positions held by their more politically savvy/ or ruthless counterparts.
Didn't we discuss this same sort of thing in another thread coming up with some sort of consensus about following the dwarf/vampirecount model 50/100 points of magic item plus 50/100 points special ability. from a set menu. We could add a seperate menu of negative points magic items/skills that a player may take to add character or squeeze an extra magic item in with. these could be anything from bombastic knightly vows that end up biting you in the ass to a penchant for taking your teddy bear onto the field of battle. Maybe a cursed family banner, or a silly hat of foolishness.
negative points could affect everything from command range, spotty leadership skills, stupidity, cowardice, suicidal bravery against all other sense (and no one will follow him) or any other gameable traits.