[quote=WebSpyder]But to be fair, classes that make use of medium or light armor (clerics, fighters, and rangers in particular) can also use shields. So they can also get that +2 AC buff. A Dex fighter might want studded leather, a shield, and a rapier. And regardless of what other classes can get, a str-fighter without Plate Armor is less tanky than a fighter with it.
And there are many classes who can't use a shield so hardly an accurate assessment to discount them. Most clerics will fall into the exact same boat as your STR fighters anyway. A fighter without +3 Plate is less tanky than a fighter with Plate... doesn't mean every fighter should have +3 Plate. That simply isn't a valid argument. While I agree with you that ring mail is pretty much trash and as I previously agreed, we should at least have access to if not the ability to start the game with chainmail, plate armor at this stage if the game is overkill. There is definitely some compromise room here between ring mail and plate where the heavy armors are concerned.