I agree with you Titan. My choice of words in the previous post may habe been poor: I do not assume Wards block everything continually. The easiest way to try and explain this is by using the Anagogic wards used during the famed Battle of Shimeh:
The wards are being described as Bulwark of this, Carapace of that, etc. That's because that is what it is. The bulwark and carapace can only take so much damage before being pierced/destroyed.
This is mentioned more than once in the books: The way to defeat a fellow mage isby overwhelming the opponents defences faster than that he can "repair" or "reinforce" them. This goes for mundane attacks as well: If my memory serves, in TJE, when Sorweel saves Eskeles, the cracking and breaking of his wards is being described as the Sranc attempt to break through.
In addition, Akka is described as only being able to chant his most simple wards because he is overwhelmed by Cleric's onslaught in WLW, or by the concerted effort of multiple Scarlet Spires in TWP.
Every attack batters an opponent's ward. Magic, or a charge by a dragon will go faster than a lone guy with a sword.
A nuke will probably blast his wards in an instant and kill him stone-dead.