How does Dark Elf as a race stack up against alternatives?

[Izmael]

Hide on a mage can be very useful to go AFK in places with KoS mobs who don't see invis. Low level dungeons such as Nurga/Droga, for example. Hide works as an infiite-duration invis that will only be broken if you're unlucky enough to have someone aggro a caster who will cast an AE nuke in range to you.