The Wound Severity table can indeed lead to this kind of event in 2e and wasn't in 1e.
Makes a good case for having a Ranger with Foresight of their Kindred or Cirdan as a Patron to reroll things!
Alternatively, the Elven Cultural Blessings or the Dwarven Cultural Virtue Broken spells can be used to guarantee a magical success on a healing roll. Or finding a Magical artifact with a Healing blessing.
As any PC can be can hit 1/12 times with the Eye of Sauron and piercing blows are now a bit more common (10 or Eye, rather than frequently just Eye in 1e) armour is a good investment. Particularly as you can abandon your helm if it is making you weary. Plus armour has slightly lower load in 2e than 1e.
I think you ruled this pretty well - spending Hope on saving a dying PC is a natural thing to do when you're familiar with a game, so I think you were right to allow it retroactively with new players.