Ya, but you could activate perseverance anytime, you can only use this item once and then you have to go back to get a hug before you can use it again.

I'm also biased since I usually play light dodge-heavy characters but the only time I would think of using it is at the end of a boss fight when I want to dish out five uninterrupted blows and just finish the fight. And even with the damage reduction I might not survive with my fashion-souls armor.