It's not really trying to avoid damage that is bad. It's trying to create space that's bad. Bosses can and will close gaps and punish back dashes like crazy. And will do so until you learn your lesson.
Yeah, that's a problem for me. I like having a buffer between me and an enemy so I can set up my next attack with more room for error. "Dodge or Die" mechanics have never been appealing to me. (which is half the reason I stopped playing FFXIV)
Even though I loved the Souls series as a whole, my thinking has always been: Why bother dodging if I can put on the heaviest armor and shield possible, eat a hit and smack the ever loving f*ck out of whatever is in my way and then keep moving forward.
Since there doesn't seem to be heavy armor so far I've just been sinking points into HP so I don't die as quickly lmao.