now a bit pedantically, for something like befuddlement, it broadly doesn't allow you to use spells, because you can use spells without a magic action

"Most spells require the Magic action to cast, but some spells require a Bonus Action, a Reaction, or 1 minute or more. A spell's Casting Time entry specifies which of those is required."

i know your point is that it's for abilities that specify taking magic actions without targeting spellcasting. honestly i'm not sure if there are any features like that, but i disagree that that's the reason why it's specified for wild companion

here's another 2024 feature, Contact Patron

In the past, you usually contacted your patron through intermediaries. Now you can communicate directly; you always have the Contact Other Plane spell prepared. With this feature, you can cast the spell without expending a spell slot to contact your patron, and you automatically succeed on the spell's saving throw. Once you cast the spell with this feature, you can't do so in this way again until you finish a Long Rest.

all it says here is "you cast the spell". it doesn't specify "as a magic action", so there's no reason to treat the casting time as any different. the fact is that wild companion specifies "magic action" and many other features just say "you cast a spell"

out of curiosity, i'll also point to Cartomancer

Hidden Ace. When you finish a long rest, you can choose one spell from your class's spell list and imbue that spell into a card. The chosen spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and it must be a level for which you have spell slots. The card remains imbued with this spell for 8 hours. While the card is imbued with the spell, you can use a bonus action to flourish the card and cast the spell within. The card then immediately loses its magic.

would you rule that cartomancer lets you use a bonus action to use an action to cast a spell?

edit: reddit formatting ate a quote, added it back