El Duderino

Different strength and weaknesses, but it all worked for the people it was made for. Most people, world wide just wore leather armour at the very most, most armour protection was too expensive or too high maintenance cost to keep in tip top shape after a battle bruising. And it was probably undesirable to have a blow that left you unable to use a arm or leg because the metal was bent a certain way after being hit. It was a rich mans armour, not the common day to day workers armour, you need a cost efficient, flexible armour, such as leather or chainmail (chainmail again being probably a rich mans soldiers armour or personal guard).

Yeah. Gambeson and similar armor was also a very common and effective form of armor. Probably wasn't terribly expensive.

And you could probably conceal leather armour better than metal, so if someone decides he wants to stab your gut in the bar and watch you fall to the ground and die, they'll be in for a surprise.

Ah right the fabric armour, mostly worn before chainmail for comfort and extra padding protection.

Good for stopping bleed outs.

It was probably their equivalent of military combat dress, and a common thing to wear in general.