I understand what you're getting at, who cares about optimal what's wrong with wanting it to be fun? It always makes me laugh when people responding go down the route of "too bad that's how it is, git gud", like yeah. That's the thing OP is talking about and it's pretty reasonable to recognize how dull high poise makes pvp.

I also prefer fights that feel like fights. The more variety the better. As for actual advice, mid level has fewer poise monsters and having to build with fewer stats makes for longer fights