I think the main reason rebase --interactive is not well known is the people shouting “don’t use rebase ever” without bothering to provide a nuanced explanation of their warning. Many newcomers will avoid rebase altogether without trying to understand what it does.

Git developers created switch and restore commands to clarify the user facing functionality of checkout. Not sure if they would do the same for rebase --interactive (something like git rearrange, terrible name, I know). That would bring it to people’s attention bypassing the witch-hunt around rebase. But I wouldn’t hold my breath.