That 90% of all fights going to the ground statistic has a kind of qualifier to it - it's "90% of all fights go to the ground when you or your opponent want them to". It is a very simple thing to coax an enemy to a ground position, because it isn't always you on top.
As for what martial art you should try, OP, I'd suggest either Muay Thai or Krav Maga. I myself studied Tae Kwon Do for around eight years, and can say that it wasn't quite as thrilling or informative as when I took, for instance, Ninjutsu. From what you've explained you want to learn close quarter combat with an emphasis on stopping your opponent, and the aforementioned will help you do that.
As for the validity of learning an art for self defense, regardless of whether you are in a position to use it... that's up to the practitioner to decide. Martial arts exist to share the wisdom of previous generations, including when to fight and when to solve things with words.
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