This goes for every JRPG: if clicking and winning is bad, how is chess popular? It’d just mean the RPG part isn’t balanced (or is not your type of game)
Mario&Luigi, the only series close to this I’ve played, just does it way better, some dodges require holding, almost all include figuring out who to dodge with, different effects depending on when you jump etc.
Parries in E33 come down to timing one button, and occasionally pressing the others with very clear telegraphs. And dodging seems barely more helpful
JRPGs live or die depending on how the combat works, so I think that first point is a little reductive.
Of course… You’d need to balance the game entirely different.
It’s just that the game is made for parries so if you take that out its kinda bland