Let anyone should think that Perfect Contrition is a magic answer that solves all the "problems" of going to confession, such as having to leave for Mass early and having to confess your sins to a priest --
There is a HUGE problem with Perfect Contrition as a primary solution, that is, choosing it on purpose over going to Confession.
And that is -- you never know if you really made an act of Perfect Contrition. Just like you can't know 100% that you are in the State of Grace (that is a dogma of the Faith), you can't know what your TRUE motivation is for being sorry. With the Sacrament of Penance, you can be 100% sure your sins were forgiven (as long as your confession was sincere, entire, etc.)
And your residence for eternity is too much to risk -- so anyone who can reach a priest, even if it's a 4 hour trip, should do so whenever they have mortal sins to confess. What is 8 hours of your time and $75 worth of gas when you compare that to an eternity in hell vs. an eternity in heaven? That's what all our material wealth is FOR -- to help us gain heaven.
Matthew