I'll take a pocket auto, with real POWER, that malfunctions 1 time in 10 shots, over a FEEBLE pocket pistol, that is 100% reliable. First off, the "bluff" of showing the attacker the gun works 90% of the time. At least 50% of the remaining 10%, you'd BETTER settle his hash with the FIRST shot. So the fact that the pistol MIGHT malfunction in the next 3-4 shots is pretty meaningless. You can hit the guy in the chest with 3-4 380's, and have LESS effect than ONE 356 TSW Split Nose load, given the same chest hit. "reliability" is for those who "think" that they will have enough time to MISS a lot (or hit the attacker in a feeble manner) Sorry, that's NOT how it works.
Typically, you have at MOST 1 second in which to do SOMETHING decisive, or LUCK is what determines the outcome (of pocket pistol type encounters) they occur at 10 ft or less, and a man can be all OVER you in 1 second flat, from 10 ft away, and a standing start.