How often is opening scientist a good move?
I don't think it is. Most cards that cost high amounts of debt are bad at the beginning of the game. It's part of the concept, which is why i felt comfortable with a debt cost. It certainly compares favourably to Lab once you have a few good action cards in your deck, but at the start it's worse than Silver.
Edit: actually maybe scientist should give $4 instead of $3. With the debt you take it's strictly worse than mystic or a double lab, an easy choice usually.
It's not strictly worse at all. If at least one of the three cards you draw is at least a Copper, it's strictly better than a Lab, while not costing more. <8> are also a lot easier to pay than $5 twice, too. The coin choice is actually only so you don't unwittingly get yourself in a situation where you can't pay back your debt, but i guess i could have left it out, too.
Both the split piles seem too weak.
I'm not sure why a Peddler for $2 is too weak, after all the consensus usually seems to be that it would be halfway balanced at $4. I mean, unless 5 Scholars are gone, there cannot be any Inquisitions that would be revealed, so that's cheap, save money. People buy Pearl Diver for $2, and often there won't be anything better to pick up at that price range, either way. Inquisition isn't hyper strong, but also doesn't compare terribly to Warehouse, a rather good $3. I considered having it draw and discard 3 cards, though, to make it a straight upgrade to WH. Also, don't forget it puts spokes between your opponents's wheels, which is half the fun with it. You usually don't want both Inquisition and Scholar in masses, but that's kind of the point. Also Inquisition gets stronger later in the game, which is also when it gets uncovered.
Could you share your event and landmark templates?
Do you use Gimp? I could send it to you per link, i guess. Would have to upload it somewhere, first. But sure.