how does say 1% compare to a point of str/armour/vit etc? trying to figure out if it's more beneficial to get damage reduction gear or stack one of the other things.

for example as a DH, is it worth trying to get reduced ranged stuff? I see the string of ears with 20% melee as being quite a popular item, surely that must mean something if barbs are wanting it instead of vit or something else?