My understanding of how the armor perks stack may be wrong, but this is a basic comparison.

Glass Armor (chest + gloves + boots + helm (76 total) + 100% bonus from perks + 25% (of original total) all light bonus + 25% matching set bonus = grand total)

38 + 11 + 11 + 16 + 76 + 19 + 19 = 190 total

Dragonscale Armor (chest + gloves + boots + helm (82 total) + 100% bonus from perks + 25% (of original total) all light bonus + 25% matching set bonus = grand total)

41 + 12 + 12 + 17 + 82 + 20.5 + 20.5 = 205

Daedric Armor (chest + gloves + boots + helm (108 total) + 100% bonus from perks + 25% (of original total) all heavy bonus + 25% matching set bonus = grand total)

49 + 18 + 18 + 23 + 108 + 27 + 27 = 270

Is that math right? Anyway, this means that the best heavy armor in the game offer 25% more protection that the best light armor in the game. Or something. ha ha

Unless you're grinding your armor skills on weak monsters, chances are heavy armor is the only skill you'll actually raise in effectiveness much over the course of the game as any light armor user is likely either ranged or sneaky/crafty in not getting hit enough to level.

Also at base values heavy is superior to light in protection, and of course it makes more noise and uses up more stamina when sprinting.

In my play experience it is very difficult to raise the armor skill values where perks come into play whatosever with either choice. But I typically play Master where you do not want to have your armor protecting you from a hit (cause chances are, it won't regardless).

The advantages of Light Armor:
-It weighs practically nothing
-It makes less noise for the early/mid game
-It's better on stamina in general meaning longer sprint times, more power attacks, and quicker recovery
-It looks awesome
-The Dark Brotherhood outfit is godlike for stealthy characters
-No perks are really necessary for the best outfits as opposed to Heavy Armor if you join the Thieves guild/Dark Brotherhood

when will you understand that not all the people choose things in order to be INVINCIBLE? i have an archer, and of course i would never use a heavy armour, not even it make me overpowered

PD: english is my second language..

Light Armor is about mobility, and it shows in the perk selections (Namely the faster stamina regeneration and 10% chance to dodge). The weight of the armor doesn't matter in the long run, assuming that you'll actually be investing heavily in one tree or the other.

Heavy armor, on the other hand, is all about defensive power; it has a generally higher armor rating than light armor, resistance to staggering effects (extremely useful for fighting high level Draugr, let me tell you), and reduced fall damage (only situationally useful, such as if your character is staggered off of a ledge or has to jump down from a height to reach an aggravating ranged opponent). I've never found the reflect damage effect to be all that useful, especially since I'm playing a Warrior with maxed crafting skills.

But yes, if you're playing a warrior type (and note how I say Warrior type, not just Tank type), Heavy Armor is useful. Otherwise, go for Light Armor.

As do I. Nearly all my characters in Morrowind wore medium.

To summarise:

Heavy Armour
- Has highest armour rating
- Has a large penalty to stealth checks
- Weighs considerably more
- Reduces movement speed
- Has perks that give + Unarmed damage, - Stagger, 10% damage reflect, -50% fall damage


Light Armour:
- Has lower armour rating
- Has less penalty to stealth checks
- Weighs very little
- Has perks that give + 50% stamina regen, 10% dodge chance


No Armour:
- No armour rating at all
- No penalties to movement or stealth
- Eligable for Mage Armour alteration perk (x3 bonus to defensive spells)

Yeah, I really don't get the distinction between the two either. There needs to be way more difference between the two with the Perks. Heavy Armor should not be silent ever.

Don't get glass armor dude. It's not worth it. An orc hit me with a warhammer and I was in the ER for 7 weeks. 4,415 stitches.

Show me some actual numbers of light armor being better than heavy armor when it comes to protection. I know I'd want 10% damage reflection, instead of 10% avoiding damage. Fast stamina regen is hardly a problem at all and is alone the only thing that is better than light armor, in addition to less stamina when sprinting.