On the internal side of PER airport (T1 VA side and T2 VA side), even if they shut all access to check in at PER dom VA T1, the long walk from and to PER dom T2 will always be open.
I did the sojourn a few years ago.
Yes, its a long walk, and if you do it from VA dom T1 to T2, its all a very long long long nice amble in a going down gradient.
But yes, I can understand the muse about the opposite of going up that gradient, would not be nice if you have bags/trolley/heavy HLO.
When I first landed from ADL's VA flight, I saw the VAd PER T1 lounge, thought, oo, so thats where it is, looks beautiful, modern, etc.
Saw this very long ramp to T2, thought to myself, ah, must try this and see where it leads.
15mins walk later, I find myself at T2 VA dom regional, so I went out from there and got the bus to PER city centre from there.
Have used PER T1 int to fly to SIN a few years ago, with QF, (before T3 became quasi int departures), so knew the rough layout of the airport.
If you have not done the walk from PER VA dom T2 to T1, do it at least once.
If you have done it and hate it, I see your point.
Its not everyone's cup of tea, or past time, but it has to be done once.
Edit: if I am not mistaken, VA had peremanently shut its VA reg lounge at the PER VA T2 reg dom departures zone.