I stick with Obsidian Orbs being used for storing life energy and a psionic/magical focus. Any magic or psionic user can use them although they are typically used by wizards and psions.
I also run with the SMs being the only ones who can grant Templars spells, a consequence of the Living Vortices, but I run with them as something that can be transferred upon the death of a SM (ala Dregoth’s Ascending).
There’s only 15 that survived to current day:
Myron, Manu (Hamanu), and Irikos had theirs bound by Rajaat during their transformation process with Myron’s being freed upon his death and rebound to one of the other SMs after the rebellion.
Albeorn (Andropinis), Borys, Daskinor, Dregoth, Gallard (Nibeney), Inenek (Lalali-Puy), Kalid-ma, Keltis (Oronis), Sielba, Tecktuktitlay, Uyness (Abalach-Re), and Wyan had theirs bound during the ritual to make them SMs and 1st level dragons as part of the deal for the rebellion. Note that Daskinor, Tec, Kalid-ma, and Keltis aren’t named as being in the rebellion in RaFoaDK.
Pennarin didn’t get a Vortice bound to him due to his untimely death at the hands of Rajaat during the rebellion, but Wyan did due to the proximity to the Dark Lens when the ritual was cast. The others were using him as a conduit for the magic and didn’t realize until afterwards that he’d also been bound.
The Obsidian Orbs weren’t what allowed the SMs to grant templar’s spells, they are used as part of the Dragon transformation process to allow them to steal animal life to power their spells.
I do however have Andropinis and his Shadow Templars working on a giant obsidian orb that exists both in Athas and the Black similar to how the Shadow Transformation has a focus that exists in both. Once complete it will form a bridge between Athas and the Black allowing Andropinis to grant his templars spells again.