I agree Basic should have been called Sidekick or something simular
there is nothing stopping the writer from setting some dials as a suggestion
really the power level suggestions on the bottom of page 14 of the Basic(Sidekick I loved that name also) rule book pretty much sets most of the dials there
the rest of the dials are pretty much what the GM and PCs agree on
there is also no stopping the publishing of pre-gens for PCs to look over and maybe with help of the GM to swap skills,talents,perks, and equipment
I know how to fake it good
1920/30's bores me to tears unless there are low power supers
what probably is needed are a 10 to 15 monster/villain pdfs for beginner games
get HSB(Sidekick) and maybe a free or really cheap Splat pdf like above, also a setting that will have followups in the future and maybe an over all storyline to follow(like TORG,VtM,7th Sea, etc)
this begging stuff should be cheap, maybe recycle some art, monster and villains
you might even get it down to say WildStrike sized