Was the leather muscled curiass of the later times sexier?

[caiusbeerquitius]

AKA - untanned leather, it is a lot more leather-like than bronze or iron is.

No. You got that wrong. It´s the other way round: Leather is tanned rawhide.
More or less whatever, you said leather, which it is not.

The way you argue one also could say:
The Romans MAY have bought uranium from the Germanic tribe located in southern Thuringia, and the laid dirty bombs into the parthian rivers. Makes as much sense. Or: The Romans MAY have sent an expedition to the south pole. Or.... you get the point...

It´s safer to stick to evidence and then work from there.