I think the cube recipes should have been enabled for all players as they are old recipes that are being made more useful. I also think if there are going to be ladder only cube recipes they should be ones that are actually new not just old recipes being given additional uses
1 Ral Rune + 1 Sol Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Normal Unique Weapon = Exceptional Version of Weapon (original use)
1 Ral Rune + 1 Sol Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Normal Set Weapon = Exceptional Version of Weapon (additional use)
1 Lum Rune + 1 Pul Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Exceptional Unique Weapon = Elite Version of Weapon (original use)
1 Lum Rune + 1 Pul Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Exceptional Set Weapon = Elite Version of Weapon (additional use)
1 Tal Rune + 1 Shael Rune + 1 Perfect Diamond + Normal Unique Armor = Exceptional Version of Armor (original use)
1 Tal Rune + 1 Shael Rune + 1 Perfect Diamond + Normal Set Armor = Exceptional Version of Armor (additional use)
1 Ko Rune + 1 Lem Rune + 1 Perfect Diamond + Exceptional Unique Armor = Elite Version of Armor (original use)
1 Ko Rune + 1 Lem Rune + 1 Perfect Diamond + Exceptional Set Armor = Elite Version of Armor (additional use)
As you can see all these supposedly new recipes are just updates to the recipes for upgrading unique items to also allow the set items to be ugraded that is why they should not be ladder exclusive
As for runewords to keep some newness to ladder only runewords have the newest runewords be ladder exclusive only for the season they are added this way new runewords can be added as ladder exclusive every season and there will never be ladder exclusive runewords in non-ladder play.
To get ideas for new runewords take suggestions from the community that plays the game. This method can also can used to get ideas for new cube recipes this will help to keep ladder fresh and new each season and not have runewords or items that are the result of cube recipes in non-ladder that that are ladder exclusive