Change inherent code so that it is first checked whether the inherent can be used or not. If yes, then proceed to use inherent normally. If no, give echo and do not proceed to use inherent. This mechanism would be beneficial for inherents.

In current system things like this happens:

Scenario: a centaur uses rear outside combat. Following things happen:

-Centaur gets an echo that you need to be in combat in order to use rear.
-Inherent timer is set and centaur now has to wait another hour before using rear.
-Centaur gets a skill improvement and gets better at rear.

Now, the same scenario in the proposed system:

-Centaur gets an echo that you need to be in combat in order to use rear.
-Inherent timer is not set and centaur does not have a chance get a skill improvement.

Now, I don't know if this is centaur-specific, but it is not a good design to use. If this is a general design issue, then I could see scenarios where a dwarf tries to use a forgecraft on flesh item or felar use feral growl when affected by another frenzy effect. The current mechanism is just unfun and the mechanism is unfriendly to newbies. Thus, changing the mechanism to a more robust one would be a good idea for both current and future inherents.

You don't even need to try to forge an unforgeable item or be in a forge. You just inh forgecraft every time the timer comes up and you will perfect it before you hero (and would really be getting good use out of it).

The non-reply suggested to me that it was either a feature or a non-inconsequential bug to fix

Now that we have new, seasonal races coming, fixing the broken mechanism would have more beneficial impact for the new designs, in addition to fixing the old ones. Currently, you have an in-combat only inherent(rear) you can goad the opponent using out of combat by fleeing out early and force the timer on the centaur using his rear on the air. Not a big effect, since the timer is just until next tick. Now when I think of it, you could probably make a D-elf eat the inherent faerie fire timer by quickly leaving the room just before the moment of the casting.

I suppose it is by bad design rather than a bug, so I posted it here rather than bug board as a suggestion to change the design into something that functions better.