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The pro-AR500 troll's M.O. seems to be more of one where they'll say something along the lines and to the effect of  "Steel armor is just as good as ceramic and is more cost effective," along with a sentiment where they've fooled themselves into thinking "it's good enough for my needs," and passively assert/imply that buying steel over ceramic is fine and the only compromise being made is greater weight for lesser price, ignoring the compromised function as armor, and at the same time dismissing the pro-ceramic crowd as snooty, as though they were only showing off what extra money they had to spend, as if this were some dick measuring contest between antagonistic neighbors over a new car/pool/RV or camper/lawn mower/tools/barbecue/etc.

This is what I see happening, rather than AR500 fans attacking pro-ceramic people per se; they can't. To make the same argument as pro-ceramic people in the reverse order holds no logic or factual leg to stand on, to say nothing of the fact that in all the "AR500 test shoot" videos shown, none of them are to the same standards that ceramic body armor must be subjected to in order to pass true NIJ certificaton.

I believe what it comes down to is you have the pro-ceramic crowd feeling that their experience in combat and/or manufacturing is being disregarded, and thus their intelligence is being insulted, by the "Just as good" fallacy being pushed by the AR500 crowd, who at the end of the day seem merely reluctant to cough up a few extra $$ to pay for real body armor. On the other hand, the AR500 crowd is defending their purchases and the money they spent. As I stated in another thread, when the lesser equipped group is confronted by the better equipped group, those in the lesser will either adapt/learn from comparative analysis, rise, and become part of the better equipped group, or they'll dig in/get hostile and defend what they chose initially because it's become a matter of saving face.

Insofar as "training armor" goes, they make that too: http://store.teamwendy.com/esapi-non-ballistic-training-plate/

"Why spend money on that when for a few bucks more I can get steel armor that will actually provide some protection?"

Why spend money on half ass armor when for a few bucks more you can get purpose-built dedicated body armor that will ultimately provide better protection?

"Well steel armor will last longer and retain durability after being shot than ceramic will so it'll stay around longer."

They used to wear no armor in WWII & Vietnam and still got shit done, what's your point? If your plan ends with you taking a shitload of rounds to the front or rear plate, and somewhere in that moment being able to say to yourself "at least I can still wear it and do this again sometime!" then you've either trained poorly, planned poorly, or both.

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Testing the sheet of steel before it's cut and formed =/= NIJ rating

Obviously not all ceramic armor is equal, but I should have specified. I was referring to Level IV ceramic armor, being that it's the highest NIJ rating.

Guys prone out with 100+ lbs of shit hanging off of them in drop to the floor right the fuck now fashion, and the armor doesn't chip or crack, but keeps doing its job, and you're worried about durability. Come on man, you're better than that. Your "every citizen a soldier" endeavor wasn't synonymous with "Poor man's guide to being a soldier" the first few times I read through it. I'll hold you to that standard, because I pass your site along to a lot of my shooting friends.

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Tests from AR500 Armor

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I will stand partially corrected.  Looks like they are tested to NIJ standards but are not listed on the NIJ website or labelled as NIJ certified (in pics from their website).
Why have they not submitted these certifications by HP White to be added to the list?

Currahee, are your AR500 plates labelled as NIJ certified?  I ask because every set of armor I have ever been issued has the NIJ Threat level certification and standard used prominently displayed on the label.

I have friends who have been shot, I have been shot at.  For me it is more of a "when" not "if" proposition as to when I will actually have to depend on my armor to stop an incoming round so I take the NIJ certifications seriously.  I'm not really into the steel v. ceramic debate.  I wouldn't use ceramics that weren't NIJ certified  or .mil issued/tested  either, no matter what the manufacturer claimed on their website.

Stay Safe,
Rob