Think you've just answered it yourself 
@False Fiction - Virtue / Defiant
Current projects - [Glaciologist - Ill/Cold Troller] [Cloudshaper - Storm/Dark Def] [Harald Wartooth - Elec/Psi Domi]
Well I did think of that myself, but mind probe is still a powerful ST attack and I'm not yet sure how useful the fear actually is.. 
- @DSorrow - alts on Union and Freedom mostly -
Currently playing as Castigation on Freedom
My Katana/Inv Guide
Anyone who doesn't take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either. -Einstein
I think you're better off with your 3 ST blasts. The only one that does less dmg than probe is Ice Bolt. However, I wouldn't drop it because it's a decent attack to have when you're mezzed.
Regarding the cones, both of them got over 2,5secs activation. I'd stick to one of them only (think Frost does most dmg).
Scare seems to be a decent power. I still think Freeze Ray does the trick and it's up twice as fast.
@False Fiction - Virtue / Defiant
Current projects - [Glaciologist - Ill/Cold Troller] [Cloudshaper - Storm/Dark Def] [Harald Wartooth - Elec/Psi Domi]
For a pure PvE build should I rather take mind probe + fear or the two damage cones? Getting the 2 cones would give me some real nice AoE damage potential with PSW. Once I get IOs I shouldnt even need mind probe to fill my attack chain and I havent used the fear much because freeze ray works just as good/better most of the time with a shorter animation...
- @DSorrow - alts on Union and Freedom mostly -
Currently playing as Castigation on Freedom
My Katana/Inv Guide
Anyone who doesn't take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either. -Einstein