i think it works for me because perfect guards nullify the OHKO, which the game constantly incentivizes since the minute you learn about it (and its the one time i feel the games systems are neatly bowtied and you get a glimpse of the potential of hybrid yakuza/jrpg battle systems) + there are several other ways to mitigate it as well. knocking him down, using sacrifice stone/cursed substitute, ichi gets a skill called peerless resolve early on for hero that lets him tank shots that would have killed him, etc. anyways that's just my take on it, not trying to dissent passionately but it's far from being either the worst thing in the game or from being the most bullshit thing in a jrpg

Updated review because I used some braincells like in Kingbancho's comment, thanks man