ToH Potion Belt activation

[hasty panther]

Book: Tome of Heroes
Page #: 314

I just realized the common version of the Potion Belt says

you can use an action to speak the belt’s command word

but the rare version says

you can use a bonus action to speak the belt’s command word

Was the intention for the common belt to also activate with a bonus action? If not I'm a bit confused as to what the benefit would be, since drinking a potion is also an action.

(For others who may comment, yes, I know most everyone house rules that drinking a potion is a bonus action, but I'd still like to know what the intention was.)

[soft ruin]

If you really run RAW potions become a bit tricky (ignoring the fact that in D&D2024 healing potions are now officially a bonus action). First turn: Sheathe weapon: interact. Draw potion: action. Next turn, drink potion: action. Draw weapon: interact. Attack. So the common belt would cut some of that (that most GMs ignore anyway) out.

[nova citrus]

Keith spelled out the action economy with potions well.

The potion belt is like a hands-free "healing button" that doesn't require you to dig in your pack, sheathe or drop your weapon, or similar to gain the same benefit of drinking a potion.