Quote Originally Posted by Easy_Lee View Post
In other words, these special melee attacks don't hit the target, is what you're saying, because a hit requires an attack roll.
Yes. It's a plain language vs. game terms issue. Just like you don't trigger on hit abilities when you "hit" something with a Fireball. Or if you bump into someone ("hit him") in a crowd.

From the 3 kinds of checks (attack roll, ability check, saving throw), only attack roll uses "hit" as term for success.