This is why I suggested upping Gnome INT/WIS instead... It's much easier to balance Gnome verses Ele and see it as an Int&Agi vs End tradeoff for same Wis (due to the relative importance of End). However if NH is willing to rebalance all the 17&18 End races then I do think upping Gnome and Ling End would definitely make them more playable.
Balancing with Wis would literally only help the class be a better Elder though. It would be virtually meaningless to every other potential gnome class (necro, priest, chanter, pally?). That also would make them way too strong as elders.
It would definitely require a re-balance for gnomes and likely for lings but I doubt it would have to be too big. For Gnomes you could maybe just lower their usable stats by 3-4 (including the one that would go toward the extra end point). For lings maybe lower usable points by 2-3 (including the extra end point).
Gnomes, Humans, and Lings are definitely the worst classes in my eyes right now and this would help two of them for sure - there will inevitably be some balance damage to the classes that Gnomes or Lings might replace but that could be balanced by some slight buffs down the line to races that fall by the wayside I think.
I dunno what the fuck to do with humans tbh maybe just give them even more usable stats and some passive buffs or something odd. In practice the class could make excellent Paladins but there are so many better races for pally's when compared to them.