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So is it just the power handling that limits the performance compared to larger high-end transformers? Or are there other differences?

Is there anything to watch out for when driving the transformer with an opamp?

I have mic preamps and mics I have made using using Lundahl LL1538 and LL1935 transformers - they sound great and the mic pres get used on 80% of tracks I record - very transparent but adding just a touch of smoothness and heft (subjective assessment obv). Lundahls are horribly expensive though!

I also have mics and mic pres using the large but inexpensive OEP and Vigortronix transformers. These are OK to good, but just a bit meh compared to the Lundahls, and not as detailed as a transformerless circuit.

But I'm going for something different here - pleasant colouration and low cost.

The spec given for the NTE-1 is 1% THD at -3dBu which is about 0.55v rms or 1.5v ptp if I have done the arithmetic correctly.

That's not a lot but should be sufficient for most microphones on most sources.

Considering that the purpose of adding the transformer in this case is to add some colour and make a character mic then a bit of transformer saturation may be entirely acceptable, it really comes down to whether these transformers overload in a sonically pleasing way.

I will try it for sure.