Seriously folks.. have you checked the new rules for Appraise?
Under Appraise:
Quote:
If you are trained in Appraise, you can use it in
conjunction with detect magic or identify to determine
the properties of a magic item in your possession. The
DC of this check is equal to 15 + the item’s caster level.
If successful, you determine the item’s properties and
command words. You cannot determine the powers of
artifacts through the use of this skill. You must be the
caster of detect magic to use this skill in this way.
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Under Identify Spell:
Quote:
This spell functions as detect magic, except that it gives you a +10
enhancement bonus on Appraise checks made to identify the properties
and command words of magic items in your possession. This spell does
not allow you to identify artifacts.
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A high end magic item could be looking at a DC 30!
So even with a high Int score and the Identify spell, you will need some ranks in Appraise to reliably find out what magic items you have.
This seriously ups the value of Appraise, as it's the new mechanic for Identifying magic items.
Trust that the designers know what they are doing... they simultaneously fixed the hassle of magic item identification, as well as make a rarely used skill have a point in the game.
At the very least make sure you know the impact of the change you propose... rolling it into the craft and profession skills would be a nightmare with the new Identify spell mechanic. At least Observe can keep the mechanic, but I'm not sure it's required, or even makes thematic sense (knowing an object's worth is very different from just looking at it).