Why do I need the Raging Intimidation feat in order to Demoralize while Raging?

Question

While building a Barbarian, I was reviewing the rules for Rage and Intimidation. The Barbarian has a level 1 class feat called Raging Intimidation that states:

While you are raging, your Demoralize and Scare to Death actions (from the Intimidation skill and an Intimidation skill feat, respectively) gain the rage trait, allowing you to use them while raging.

But I don't see a good reason, beyond the existence of this class feat itself, why these actions would be otherwise forbidden during a Rage.

The Rage action itself only specifies three restrictions, the relevant item being:

You can't use actions with the concentrate trait unless they also have the rage trait. You can Seek while raging.

Both Demoralize and Scare to Death, the actions specifically called out by Raging Intimidation, do not possess the Concentrate trait. Also note that the Rage action itself does not state that actions require the Rage trait. This trait only specifies that actions with the trait may only be used while raging. This does not imply the inverse since, if it did, a Barbarian would not be able to Strike while raging.

What am I missing? Why could I not use Demoralize or Scare to Death without the Raging Intimidation class feat?

All citations and links are Archives of Nethys

Answer 1

Demoralize has the Concentrate Trait

This skill action does have the trait mentioned in Rage as not working, so giving it the rage trait does allow you to use it while raging. You are correct that Scare to Death lacks the concentrate trait and that any barbarian could use it while raging regardless of Raging Intimidation.

Why Gain the Rage Trait?

Even though Scare to Death could be used by any barbarian, one with Raging Intimidation could use it as part of the free action Mighty Rage. This allows you to scare someone to death while also entering your rage, an action economy boost if there aren't any other abilities with the rage trait you'd rather use.