Roles - do they work?

[yesnomu]

I don't believe it's as dismissible as you think. Playing a character that uses strength to hit for both straight up (fighter) attacks and sneaky (rogue) attacks is very different than someone who has no choice but to use str to hit for fighter attacks and dex for rogue attacks. And it's not just a fluff difference. This is a very real game mechanics difference in how it plays.

In the same vein, a rogue's melee basic attack uses Str to hit. Huh? How does this make sense?

I'm still not convinced the stat you use to attack makes a measurable impact on your character concept. Sure, you're using Dex to attack, but you're brutally stabbing your dagger into an artery (and adding Str to SA damage!). If you can describe it as a Str-based attack, does it matter if it's "actually" using Dex?

It's like if my Wizard takes a Cleric power--does it matter that it's a Wisdom-based power if I call Hammer of Fate "Intercontinental Ballistic Magic Missile" and flavor it as Arcane? (It does a little bit mechanically; I need to keep a holy symbol, etc. But flavorwise, I'm fine.)

Anyway, it's all moot--play a Ranger instead and every melee attack is based off Str. I think the concept still works, as long as you're OK with attacking twice occasionally.