I couldn't disagree with you guys more I love the environmental effects, and the armor system as it is, and believe them to be the most unique and entertaining aspects of the game. What i'd like to see more of are surface and cloud ignoring/removing skills. Like make whirlwind clear surfaces and clouds in the area, similar to the throw dust skill the A.I has (I am assuming rouges will get access to it latter as well), and make tornado and float/surface walking spells available in act 1. Then program the A.I to use these moves along with magic armor regen spells when they start getting caught in stunning or other harmful surfaces.
DOS2's armor is definitely unique, but its not without flaws.
You'd like to see more AoE cloud removing skills because there are too many clouds. You're saying the same thing we are but in a different way. You'd rather have skills remove and/or nullify the obnoxious amount of AoE effect fields that exist instead of simply toning them down.
Not a bad suggestion either.