Could you explain "defeating the point entirely", even Google translate can't help me.
You can use N-channel MOSFET at the high side, as long as you are able to make the Gate voltage high enough (higher than the Drain and Source). That is almost never the case, so it is not often used.
In Figure 1, the 12V is the Source pin of the P-channel MOSFET.
If the Gate is low, the P-channel MOSFET is switched on.
If the Drain is 12V, the Load is powered. But the Gate is still low and the Source is still 12V, keeping it switched on.
To slowly switch the load on, the Gate voltage has to be lowered slowly from 12V to a lower voltage.
Does that answer your question ?