The Adamantine Splint Armor is currently the only way to increase Lae'zel's AC without giving up two-handed weapons.
Well, not really. I usually up her Str by one and her Dex by one at fourth level, which means she has the same AC from her starting armor.
Reeling also apply when other characters are attacked while your +1 AC is only for the armor wearer.
That's a good point.
...I'd find them much more interresting [sic] if they were +1 armor...
...I thought, "It's not even + 1? Well, I guess it's okay."
Had they been +1 it would have helped, same goes for weapons
I agree with these above quotes. Adding a +1 to these armors and weapons would help. The forge is presented as such an amazing, life-changing thing. Right now, the reeling condition is interesting and nice, but it's not enough on its own to warrant the storytelling power being given to the forge.
It needs something more.