Taunt

It has some uses i understand with the warcries and totems, but isn't putting it on the champion ascendancy a bit dumb? I mean, it would likely make more sense in the Guardian ascendancy right? Since Guardian is focused on survivability and minions, maybe would make running perma skeles on guardian actually viable instead of a wet pipe dream that has yet come to fruition.

I mean, unless I am mistaken, most people on poe play either solo or with 1-2 other people, taunt is rarely needed unless it is to draw the enemy off of you, by some means other than taunting when you hit them. I have no stats to base my info off of as far as any of this, but I would imagine its probably the least picked node out of all 3 ascendancies for the duelist.

You are mistaken. EA Ballista for one takes it all the time.

if you are running a bow build, why would you want to taunt enemies? or do your totems taunt?

Your totems taunt. You then take less damage as a result.