Totems of undying in hardcore?

So I recently started hardcore minecraft for the first time, when I go into a cave or even just explore in general I don’t feel safe even with full diamond armour, are you never know when a creeper comes up behind you or you get swarmed by a bunch of mobs. So to feel safe I did a pillager raid and spawned a bunch of iron golems to easily get like 5 totems of undying.

Now I feel much safer exploring and mining as even if I’m attacked I won’t die.

Though when I watch videos of people playing hardcore they almost always equip a shield (which is understandable early game) but lots of deaths I see are simply creeper explosions, falling to their deaths or even just swarmed by mobs. Most of these being nullified with a totem. Yes raids are dangerous but with iron golems decent armour, a LOT of arrows a bow and a diamond sword they aren’t too hard and I did one easily on hardcore with hardly any troubles.

I have 5 now and feel much safer, would we all suggest to try and get totems in hardcore? I feel like it’s a solid strategy though I understand people using a shield.