Most of you have it the way I see it. Training is for ideal situations. You have to start off on how to defend against one punch, kick, or grab. Then you build on that to combinations. You learn how to put them together. You focus on repetition of the basic techniques.
Street fighters do come in fast and furious, and they do throw as much as they can as fast as they can. Many times this is because they are afraid and don't want you to get a chance, and many times these are what I call flurry punches...they sting a little, but don't do excessive damage. Don't get me wrong there are people who street fight who are extremely strong and skilled, and it would be a major mistake to ever think otherwise til the fight is over.
To me, though, there is a difference between a street fight and an attacker trying to rob you, assault you sexually, kidnap you, etc. Street fights are two guys or multiple people duking it out for pride or face, or whatever. My advice fight dirty, you usually see this coming.
An attacker trying to rob, rape, kidnap, whatever, will try to sneak up on you, because the element of surprise is their friend.
All you can do is practice, and practice hard. Get someone in a padded suit, but make sure they react appropriately when you fight back. But have them attack you with a barrage of crazy strikes, kicks, grabs. Have them take you down if they can, and fight dirty to get them off of you. Don't quit, don't give up, there's plenty of time to catch your breath later.
Best, and I hope none of you ever have to find out for real,
Brian