A ring of invisibility. A hat of disguise. These and other items have indefinite duration, even though they "function as [their respective spells]." If they truly functioned like their respective spells, they would last mere minutes at a time only.
Therefore, is it safe to assume this means that when my monk, summoner's eidolon, or other character teleports about with an ability that "functions like dimension door" he doesn't suffer the loss of actions? That the phrase "functions as dimension door" refers to range limitations, and needing to see where your going (or state the direction and distance), and not to the loss of actions?
Loss of actions is a function of Dimension door. In card game terms, it's effect text.
Duration is more 'card type,' if that makes sense.
If it doesn't, then to clarify: all your references quoted 'duration' which is a different subset of the spell's listing, whereas Dimension Door's imposed limitation on actions is listed in the spell's description itself.
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Using magic items as a basis for the function of class abilities is not a good idea. These things function very differently. In fact there are many things that magic items do that cannot be done with class abilities and vice versa. When a class ability states that it works like a spell, stick to the spell for reference. If you find a nearly identical class ability, to the class ability in question, then comparison is in order. This works the other way too, with magical item effects, you compare to other magical items.
I'm not doing anything different from anyone else.
Many people say that hats of disguise and rings of invisibility have infinite duration, even though they "function like the spells" and have caster levels (which normally would limit their duration).
According to RAW, those people are wrong. I recognize the game developers have said differently, however, clarifying their RAI.
What I want to know is "where do we draw the line?" When an item or ability says it functions like a spell, just how much does it REALLY function like the spell?
Gamers aren't mind readers. Things like this need to be better clarified.