[Gwyrdallon]

As I read it you can wear armor up to STR+1 before you get any penalties, but after that it is -1 to agility and reaction for every 2 points above STR.  That seems fine, reasonable even, but then I get to the armor listing.  A Lined coat is 9!?, so the average person who puts on a western style duster suddenly has Agility and reaction of 0?  Actioneer buisness suits are no designed for STR 7+ people?  these values seem very high given the rules, no only trolls and some orks can realistically wear an armor jacket?  this does not sound right, were these values meant to be lower?  Or maybe it was STRx2 at some point?  Or am I just missing something that makes it more reasonable.

[mtfeeney = Baron]

You can wear any armor you want.  If you wear multiple sets of armor, only the highest armor rating applies.  The STR rule is for armor boosting things like helmets and shields.  For those, you can wear 1 more than your STR.  For every 2 full points of "+X" you wear above your STR, you take a -1 to AGI/REA.  This is why people keep saying that everyone in the world will be walking around in armored jackets constantly.

[Gwyrdallon]

Ah! so the encumberance rule only applies to the items tha have a +X valu and not the base rating of the armor?  Thanks a bunch that was in fact the thing I was missing!

[samoth]

The simplified armor rules make all but the Armored Jacket and Full Suit poor choices.  Armored Jacket has a rating of 12 and by the fluff is a common everyday item for people all over the world, so it is never out of place.  I suppose an Armored Vest is an option for situations where discretion is key, but they've made armored clothing, Actioneer business clothes, Lined Coat, urban explorer jumpsuit, etc. all suboptimal by comparison.  I honestly can't think of a scenario where you'd ever want to wear armored clothing or the Actioneer clothes since an Armored Vest has a higher rating and is only marginally more expensive than armored clothing.

Also, I'm not sure why the (synth)leather is listed as +200Y; What cost does it modify?

[Mäx]

I honestly can't think of a scenario where you'd ever want to wear armored clothing or the Actioneer clothes since an Armored Vest has a higher rating and is only marginally more expensive than armored clothing.

There are quite a few situation/places where armored business suit is much more appropriate then armored long coat or vest.

[ZeConster]

The simplified armor rules make all but the Armored Jacket and Full Suit poor choices.  Armored Jacket has a rating of 12 and by the fluff is a common everyday item for people all over the world, so it is never out of place.  I suppose an Armored Vest is an option for situations where discretion is key, but they've made armored clothing, Actioneer business clothes, Lined Coat, urban explorer jumpsuit, etc. all suboptimal by comparison.  I honestly can't think of a scenario where you'd ever want to wear armored clothing or the Actioneer clothes since an Armored Vest has a higher rating and is only marginally more expensive than armored clothing.

Are we reading the same rulebook? Because I get "The most popular armor solution on the streets comes in all styles imaginable. It offers good protection without catching too much attention. But don’t think of wearing one to a dinner party", which means you're likely to at least draw a second glance from the cops (but no more than that, unless they know a crime has been committed in the vicinity just now), shopkeepers will hesitate slightly before asking you if you found everything okay, and anyone with a High+ Lifestyle will think you're a bodyguard or hoodlum. Urban Explorer Jumpsuit allows you to pretend to be a courier, Lined Coat makes it easier to hide your weaponry underneath, Actioneer Business Clothes are good for infiltrating in a more high-class environment (plus you can still wear an armor vest underneath it)... only Armor Clothing seems really inferior, since it only helps when you want to be 99% certain people won't notice you're wearing armor.

Also, I'm not sure why the (synth)leather is listed as +200Y; What cost does it modify?

The 20¥-100,000¥ for regular clothing.

[samoth]

I honestly can't think of a scenario where you'd ever want to wear armored clothing or the Actioneer clothes since an Armored Vest has a higher rating and is only marginally more expensive than armored clothing.

There are quite a few situation/places where armored business suit is much more appropriate then armored long coat or vest.

Armor vest: This modern flexible-wrap vest is designed
to be worn under regular clothing without displaying
any bulk. A popular and cost-effective option.

Explain how that isn't appropriate worn under a normal clothes suit?

[FuelDrop]

Can you add Synthleather to Lined Coat or Armour clothing?

[Mad Hamish]

I honestly can't think of a scenario where you'd ever want to wear armored clothing or the Actioneer clothes since an Armored Vest has a higher rating and is only marginally more expensive than armored clothing.

There are quite a few situation/places where armored business suit is much more appropriate then armored long coat or vest.

Armor vest: This modern flexible-wrap vest is designed
to be worn under regular clothing without displaying
any bulk. A popular and cost-effective option.

Explain how that isn't appropriate worn under a normal clothes suit?

When you're going to be patted down or if you're going into areas where scanners will detect it...

[All4BigGuns]

I honestly can't think of a scenario where you'd ever want to wear armored clothing or the Actioneer clothes since an Armored Vest has a higher rating and is only marginally more expensive than armored clothing.

There are quite a few situation/places where armored business suit is much more appropriate then armored long coat or vest.

Armor vest: This modern flexible-wrap vest is designed
to be worn under regular clothing without displaying
any bulk. A popular and cost-effective option.

Explain how that isn't appropriate worn under a normal clothes suit?

When you're going to be patted down or if you're going into areas where scanners will detect it...

I don't think that most people are going to give a rat's arse if you're wearing an Armor Vest underneath your suit.

[Psikerlord]

Doesnt armour jacket say it is kind of frowned upon in certain society? So armoured suits, armoured vests, all that stuff still has a use in certain scenarios. Yeah, runners will mostly be trotting around in their armour jackets i suppose, but the other pieces are also useful - doesnt the lined coat give more concealability, the jumpsuit thing comes with a (plausably explained) helmet, the camo thing makes you harder to see, etc etc.

It wont always be armour jacket all the time (but it probably will be mostly).

In SR i find the "social impact" is sometimes very important in balancing certain items.... Grenades, sniper rifles, control thoughts style spells and cyborg tanktrolls spring to mind, for instance. 

[Csjarrat]

social modifiers SR5 pg 140: "Character is wearing the wrong attire or doesn’t have the right look –2"
this is why the multitude of different armour options exist.
Most venues and social situations have a FIFO policy (fit in or fuck off)
You want to go swanky, wear a suit. want to go street? leave the suit on the rack and dig out your duster.