So I'll adress both points at once from those arguing for the current system:
1) The pint of AI not being smart enough to effectively use the system as well as a player is kind of something I addressed. It'll never happen and that detracts from difficulty and the game as a whole majority. The game is built around single player and thus AI plays a big part in that. The system used should be just as beneficial to the AI as the player. Not showing the clear disparity is does. PvP isn't a good argument in this case as it's the AI the player will fight against and there's no way I see the AI ever being as good as a player with things as they are.
I don't think anyone expects the AI to ever be as good as human players. I am saying the AI right now is pretty bad. Like worse than DOS1 (non-EE) bad. We all know what happened to that AI by now, right? If you aren't going to hold the DOS1 saving throw system at fault judging by the inability of its AI to deal with CC spam, then you shouldn't hold the DOS2 armor system at fault with the current state of affairs, either. Doing otherwise is called double standard with rose-tinted glasses on.
2) Not everyone likes mechanics of combat playing out like chess. Also, the idea that chance D20 takes away from determinism is wrong since you have the option to build RNG in your favor or not. While building 90% chance to resist isn't the same as denying the chance for CC completely it's sufficiently powerful enough that your choice matters. Adding elements of surprise retain replay value and the ability to make each turn impactful and pressured since you're never 100% certain. Further, I'm arguing to keep the armor on top of this chance system. Thus your ability to prep plan and gear isn't hindered. Nor am I taking away from your determination to optimize your party a certain way at all. I'm just adding another element of depth on top of it for after the armor is gone.
Well this is more down to personal taste. I like chess-like mechanics, you don't like it. It's a he-said-she-said. In the end really only what Swen said matters. He must've liked the chess approach otherwise he wouldn't put the armor system here. Give him time to work kinks out?
