A lot also depends on your style of play. If you have been playing say, the Berlin Variation, or the Breyer Variation, then the Petroff might suit you well, and does eliminate a lot of the other garbage. You still have to deal with non-2.Nf3 lines, like the King's Gambit, Vienna, Bishop's Opening, Danish Gambit, etc, but no Scotch, Italian Game, Exchange Ruy, etc garbage.
If you are more of a Schliemann or Zaitsev player, then the Petroff will bore you to tears. It's meant for players that prefer safe positions and are happy with small advantages and know how to hold on to small advantages and convert them to wins.
because as a 1.e4 e5 player i do find the ruy lopez overwhelming from time to time. I dont know anything about the petroff defence outside its drawish reputation