Spirit Object in Divine Mysteries - errata needed? or intended?

[Finoan]

Spirit Object wrote:

Using a sliver of Baba Yaga’s power, you briefly bring a nearby object to life. The object gains a means of locomotion if it does not already have one, such as sprouting chicken legs, and Strides up to 25 feet to a space you decide within range. Once per round, you can Sustain the spell to command the object further, either prompting it to move again or to Strike. If prompted to move, the object Strides up to 25 feet again to a space within 30 feet of you. If prompted to Strike, the object attacks one creature of your choice adjacent to its space. Make a melee spell attack roll against the creature. On a success, the creature takes 2d4 damage. The damage is either bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, as appropriate for the object. The object doesn’t do anything if it doesn’t receive further commands from you. If you cast spirit object again, any previously affected object reverts back to normal. You can Dismiss the spell.

Talking with someone elsewhere about this reprinted Hex, and I noticed a few things that seem really strange.

1) Spell attack rolls don't have any general rule that you double the damage on a critical success. Strike does. Persistent Damage does. Saving throw spells can use the keyword 'Basic Save' for default behavior. But spell attack roll spells have to all explicitly list what happens on a critical success. That was even added in as errata when it was forgotten about for Polar Ray (CRB 1st errata).

Spirit Object is in that same position as Polar Ray was originally. It doesn't have anything listed for what happens on a critical success of the spell attack roll. So at that point it would follow the general rules that if a critical success or critical failure entry is omitted, it uses the entry for regular success or regular failure.

Side note: I am not sure why there isn't a general rule that a spell attack roll spell that doesn't specify otherwise would do the listed damage on a success and double damage on a critical success.

2) The original printing of Spirit Object had 1-action and 2-action cast options. The 1-action option would only allow moving the object. The 2-action option would allow both movement and Strike. It also had no duration and no lockout cooldown - so you could cast the spell again on future turns. Though it was a Hex and doing so would prevent casting other Hex spells.

Spirit Object was changed during the reprint to have a Sustained duration. When you Sustain the spell, you have a choice to either have the object move, or Strike. That allows you to sustain the spell in future rounds without locking you out of casting other Hex spells.

However, the spell also restricts you to only Sustain the spell once per round. So you can only either move the object, or attack with it - not both.

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So is it intended that you can't crit with the spell and that you can only do one of move or attack on future rounds?

[The Raven Black]

1) It is a Strike using the result of a spell attack roll. Granted it could have been clearer.

2) It can do more things than before. If Sustained, it can Strike or Stride. Only Strike was previously possible. And it can Strike again on the next turn without having to Stride first.
If you want it to Stride and Strike, you just recast the spell. Just like before.

At least that's the way I read the text you quoted.

I guess the casting is only 1 action.

[shroudb]

As pointed above, it is a Strike Action that happens when you sustain. Regardless what type of roll you do (in this case using your Spell Attack Modifier) Strikes can Critically hit by default without extra language.