It's Just Magic

Anybody else sick of this show pretending that alchemy is a science rather than magic with a few extra steps?

On the first you have the energy necessary to transmute which they explain, but it also has to read the mind of the individual.

Were it truly a science then you could only ever get the same result from the same effect. Instead, characters can make multiple things happen from the same activity.

As an example, Edward can summon a spear, create steps or spikes by simply clapping his hands and touching a solid substance. But there is no change to any of these affects.

Further, since Ed likes to transmute his automail into a blade, why doesn't he ask Winry to add a solid piece of metal he can reform without affecting his arm?