You can't defend this.
People doesn't like the 'persuasion' as it is because you cannot really 'argue' a point through this mini-game.

All you did is pick the 'most used' persuasion option (cause you can never gain points in ALL of them) and just hope for the best with SPACE BAR or play guessing game.

There are no wrong choices, you just pick what you want to say and hope the random number generator lets you win.

To me, that is weak gameplay, and so are most of the non combat skills like crafting, lucky charm, bartering.

Crafting shd've been left to Blacksmith NPC. You bring back ingredient and craft in shops.
Having to hire a NPC to sacrifice points to crafting and ditching him afterwards is just too convenient.

I am definitely for Non-Combat skills to be implemented but the manner D:OS features them are pretty shallow and forgettable. Why would you waste 5 ability ranks on Charisma when Leadership is so infinitely more useful in the long run?