So I traded all of my accessories for VIT accessories and made a bunch of HQ buttons in a blanket for some maximum HP. I'm running at 5650 HP now with a tank in my party, opposed to 4450, and is in range to take two cometeors without dying. My damage is actually noticeably less - I took a 56 hit in STR but I gained 26 crit and 21 DET, and I don't remember how much skill speed I lost, but I can feel the difference in my pace of play that my GCD is longer. My food gives me 10 more crit and 16 DET, but even with +36 crit and +35 DET, I think my damage is still lower because of the -56 STR.

Either way, it's not much lower, and I believe it's definitely worth the +1200 HP (cause you know - the whole argument of damage that I get to do for not being dead).

Do potions work in PvP? I could make some X-potions of strength and pop em every 5 minutes for +69 STR and then I'll be rocking a solid punch with a wall of HP.