Caw Gates grinds with a low-to-the-ground creature suite (Sacred Cat, Outlaw Medic, Sneaky Snacker) backed by Journey to Nowhere and Gate-based mana ramp into Basilisk Gate pump, so Thraben Charm's damage mode (twice the number of creatures we control) can pick off their small threats while also having a mode to exile graveyards against Sneaky Snacker recursion. Negate can stop noncreature spells like Journey to Nowhere before they resolve, whereas Meeting of Minds is too slow against their steady clock. Keep Negate to answer their noncreature spells and focus on answering their board.