If you have to use thorn to be at the top then you can step out of pvp. Not gonna lie though, I've definitely used my fair share of it. But I've also finished top without it. People don't finish top 100% of the time with thorn anyway. I get destroyed by red death, pyradths revenge, hawkmoon and it's one shot kill, Lord of wolfs. Plenty of other ways to get to the top. Just play smart and know what situations to challenge or walk away in pvp.