Looking at the whole hamata vs segmentata discussion from another angle

[Corvus]

It is a simple fact, a plate armor offer more protection because the impact is distributed over the entire continuous surface. It is a really simple fact that you can study in any material science book. On the opposite, the chain mail is by definition a set of rings put together, something that dissipate the impact in a really bad way, and infact every time there have been organizational/logistic improvement, plate armor has been preferred. Unless you have to fear only cut damages. But, also in that case...
Also, the fact that an armor weighs more, it tires more. Run less. Fight less. Fight worse. They kill you first.

For the logistical issues, yes, ithere were logistical issues. The same reasons for which roman field artillery has been progressively abandoned and so on. But, these are issues coming with the crisis of the third century and the loss of organization.

A tank is immensely more complex to handle from a logistical point of view than a simple jeep, but if you are able to sustain its supply chain, you would prefer to have the tank.

I think there is a difference between real plate armor and a segmentata. The segmentata is not really plate armor, it consists of many smaller parts.
I doubt that it protects better than mail.
But lets say that's the case. If the armor is a soldiers personal choice a soldier would always go for something that is more comfortable and easier to maintain. You will see the same thing in modern armies as well.
Your example with a tank and jeep is not so good, its better to think about personal choice of a plate carrier by a modern soldier. And I never saw someone go for a more bulky and less comfortable plate carrier, only because it offers more protection. If the person has a choice of course to choose their own equipment. But I did saw the army issuing bulky, more protective less comfortable equipment, because it was cheaper etc.

Lets also not forget that centurions used hamata as well and certainly every legionary would have looked up to centurions and would have wanted to wear a similar armor to them.
I would say same goes in relation to cavalry, but I am not sure how cavalry was perceived by the legionaries.