Yeah, I’m not seeing the “too far”. That could have just been description - there’s no specific need to change the mechanics/ stats to allow for that description, unless you want to.
Especially if you just give them a psionic Mage Hand effect that mimics what they’d normally do physically.
It COULD also have been a description of their changed (mechanical) abilities, if you want(ed). My point being it doesn’t have to be.
(I do understand that redking is quite excited about 3e mechanics and probably sees everything though that lens; no judgment. 
)