I disagree with you concerning Perrin's hammer, as I believe this is what RJ intended all along. Its creation was a good trigger for the ability to create Power-wrought weapons to be rediscovered, and it makes sense for the forger ta'veren to be involved in that. It's not like the weapon's ability to singe the flesh of shadowspawn makes Perrin much more powerful, especially compared to a channeler.

I'm just rereading The Dragon Reborn at the moment, and when Perrin stops at the inn in Illian called "Easing the Badger" there's a sign of a man carrying something Perrin believes is a silver spade, helping a badger. This sounds like a shadowy remembrance of Perrin and his hammer and is further indication of RJ's long-term game plan.