On the other hand, in self-defence, you don't know your opponent. Neither how many are hidden, if any. He (they) may be on drugs (and unresponsive to pain). You don't know which weapons are there, if any. Don't think it will be easy. Avoid.Since most people do NOT train in martial arts, you are right: usually simple is better. Every now and then you might have a self-defense scenario where the person is naturally a good fighter, but I think those are more rare than one might think. In a competition, you need to know more because your opponent knows more.
Stupid people fight (illegal ones). Bad people just hit/shoot/kill you when you are vulnerable...