why can *some* git commands not be run from within .git directory?

  just noticed something i was unaware of -- some git commands can't
be run if i'm in the .git directory, while others can. for example,
if i "cd .git", commands like this work just fine:

  $ git show
  $ git branch
  $ git log

but others seem unwilling to determine the "working tree":

  $ git status
  fatal: This operation must be run in a work tree
  $

and:

  $ git stash list
  fatal: /usr/libexec/git-core/git-stash cannot be used without a working tree.
  $

what's the distinction between commands that can work this way, and commands that can't?

rday

p.s. i will refrain from pointing out the inconsistency in using the phrases "work tree" and "working tree" to mean the same thing, when there is a distinct "worktree" entity.