There have been no coded changes since this thread was started, as best I can tell. Ghostwise halflings remain, code-wise, just like Lightfoot Halflings but without the +1 bonus to saves. (They do have -2 STR, +2 DEX, Climb +2, Listen +2, Sneak +2, Fear Save +2, and no ECL.)
Adding an amulet-free tell would require hard-code changes, which I think are unlikely to be forthcoming any time soon. Other ideas that come to mind, though not canon, to make them balance:
- Speak with dead ability
- Extra saving throw bonus against fear or illusion or somesuch
- Weapon bonus of some sort
- A foresty ability, like find the path?
- A house rule that they can TELL anyone, whether they have met them or not
I'm just throwing ideas out, as I'm not well-versed in halflings, but I agree that the ghostwise are at a disadvantage presently. That may be intended to keep them rare, I don't know. While I do like the no-amulet TELL idea for them, these other ideas are things that could happen pronto, I think, while that may be a long time coming.