Leather Cuirass Lorica Musculata, I used to think no way but

[Dan Howard]

I'd bet otherwise. How would you feel wearing these?:
http://www.scottishweb.net/family_tree/ ... ldierW.jpg
http://www.vikingsword.com/laking/lak031a.jpg

If that photo is from Laking's work then the reconstruction is fanciful.

As for the purpose of armour being to make a man feel protected even when not, surely the start of the first fight would see that confidence evaporate in an instant.

Which is why he never bothered with his flak vest but wore his ballistic vest "always" The difference in the analogies is that Romans paid for their own gear while US soldiers did not. If they did then none of the flak vests would have left storage.