Bill Zebub
“It’s probably Matt Mercer’s fault.”
Not necessarily, first the roll is because there is uncertainty in the reaction, and second, the DM may (for example but there are tons of other ways to play this) roleplay the NPC as not visibly intimidated, but internally impressed (and will take this into account for future interactions), or extremely annoyed, or whatever. It might also depend how the intimidation is roleplayed, whether it's forceful, or more subtile, etc. So many circumstances, personalities, thankfully it's an open game.![]()
You are free to play that way, of course, but you're not following the play loop as outlined in the rules. If the player declares that they are trying to get the Orc to back down by intimidating them, and the DM asks for a roll, then the roll is to determine if they succeed in their goal. Which is to get them to back down.
If you are asking them to roll for another reason, then you're not following the prescribed play loop.