It occurs to me that almost all of the bardic performance abilities more or less duplicate spells.
It also occurs to me that bards get spells. Many of those spells (e.g., suggestion, confusion) duplicate bardic music effects.
What I don't get is why these are mechanically separated. It seems like we could just give bards a few more spells, add a "performance" component to the usual V,S,M, and be done with it. Voila! An exceptionally customizable class. For something like Deadly Performance (aka Wail of the Banshee), a higher spell level could be added to the bard table and list. Then they could do it maybe 3/day, instead of 20/day as is currently the case.
Or is the idea of performances being kept distinct from spells just too ingrained to get rid of?
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In my opinion, while I agree that all one or the other would probably be better (I think I'd opt for bards "performing" their spells too), I think backwards compatibility will prevent this big a step from being taken.
Nothing wrong with the merits of your argument, just some additional restrictions that interfere with the natural progression of where the class is going.
What in the game CANNOT be duplicated with spells?
Face it, spells can do anything. Being able to do something that a spell does without using a spell isn't a bad thing.
Well at least in the bard's case, he uses his Perform skill as the basis for his DCs of a number of performances. This is a significant benefit that makes them much better than spells. Additionally, all bardic performances are sonic effects, meaning a silence spell negates them. This is a significant limiting factor, but it helps explain why bards do not rule the world (as they otherwise should... err would).
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Well at least in the bard's case, he uses his Perform skill as the basis for his DCs of a number of performances. This is a significant benefit that makes them much better than spells.
To a point where they might be a bit too powerful. See here.
Additionally, all bardic performances are sonic effects, meaning a silence spell negates them. This is a significant limiting factor, but it helps explain why bards do not rule the world (as they otherwise should... err would).
The performances activated with Perform (act) or Perform (dance) require the target to see the bard. No sonic aspect.