To be fair, we're shown as completely defenseless without the artefact as of patch 9. My fear is that being branded gets around the artefact's protection.
Essentially, you're screwed no matter what. Player character believes for a good while they can just remove the parasite. When it's clear you can't, might as well use it, right?
That's the call of temptation speaking 😆. How far is too far, I wonder?
