Guys, I've read the artificer discussion from the linked post to the end, but I'm still not seeing anything that overrides this:
d20srd.org wrote:Emulate a Class Feature
Sometimes you need to use a class feature to activate a magic item. In this case, your effective level in the emulated class equals your Use Magic Device check result minus 20.
d20srd.org wrote:Spell Trigger
(This is the case even for a character who can’t actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin.)
(emphasis mine)
Therefore, as retarded as that may be (whether from the rules or from me), it seems like this: spells class feature unneeded to be had
by the actual character -> only need is the spell on the class list -> "In this case" clause (1st quote) unfulfilled (as "you" means "actual character", with no appreciable bearing on levels still to be gained, as is the case with the paladin) -> use of "emulate class feature" function impossible -> suck it and use idioticly-named "use wand" function to use a staff (how retarded ...) with its own CL instead of UMD - 20 (a very high number for sure).
Most funny is that this argument would've already crumbled if not for the retardedness of this "spellcaster" which isn't so at 1st level (well, I know the idea itself is workable, but we all know the paladin implementation of it is worthless). But still, any explanation to the contrary would be thanked (that UMD + staff issue is something I wondered about of late - I'd probably end up posting the question on another thread).