Add option to hide fields from view but show them in edit

But that contradicts how the workflow access functions?

Is there any other way I can have a field available for only editing for author or certain roles but not viewable?

Ah, I think you misunderstood me. If you look at the default workflow access it works so you can set what is in the view and what is in edit.

The way I have used it is to set up so for certain field, mainly using the a user Content Taxonomy module to let users suggest new terms to a taxonomy vocabulary. Then a content admin looks at the form and will be able to add those new terms to the taxonomy.

Thus, I want the author to be able to add those suggestions in the form, but I want the view of the form to be the one that everyone else sees.

With the Workflow Access that is how it works, I can define which field that are viewed in the view and which fields that are viewed in edit.

I think being able to do so is beneficial as it allows me to do the above, have fields that only lives in edit that are useful for content admins but are never visible for the general public.