You and your wife were given PR to come to Canada and contribute to Canadian society. There are definitely circumstances which warrant a PR to be outside of Canada, which is in part why the residency obligation is set so low (40% of your time in a 5-year period must be spent in Canada). Even that may not be sufficient for some, which is why there are humanitarian and compassionate grounds that would allow for someone to maintain their status if they are not compliant; however, there must also be the intention to return and settle in Canada for that to be successful, again relating to the principle of PR Status existing for the benefits immigrants bring to Canadian Society.
Therefore, it's not looked upon very favourably by IRCC if it is suspected that someone is only using PR Status to give themselves the option of coming to Canada, when really there's no immediate or long-term intent to settle in Canada. This applies individually to every PR. So, if you or your wife do not intend on coming to Canada to live permanently (and long-term), PR status might not be for you. Doing only what it takes to meet the minimum requirements is definitely legal, and permissible, but it does not meet the spirit of the Canadian immigration system and the principle objectives of PR Status.
The Residency obligations have changed in the past, and they may change again in the future if it's found that too many people are simply obtaining PR status to have it as an option, and not to come to settle in Canada for the long-term. I should also note, that if you're serious about living in Canada, it's also currently not very burdensome to become a citizen; and Canada is very generous with its requirements for citizenship when compared to many other countries.
You and your wife should evaluate whether you really want to come to Canada and settle there, and be prepared to both meet the requirements of being a PR; or if your life together will primarily be outside of Canada.
