I have been having fun playing my Heavy Armor, Sword and Shield wielding Redguard. I have come across a question I hope folks can help with

This is my first character that would like to get into heavy armor smithing. I have come across a problem, though. Steel Plate Armor.

In order to improve or make it, I have to spend 2 perks in light armor smithing (the left hand side of the perk tree). You have to go through Elven Smithing before getting to Advanced Armors, where Steel Plate resides.

Why?

One can improve any armor (except enchanted ones) without spending any skill points in the Smithing tree at all. However, if you have the specific perk, you improve them twice as much.

As for why there are a couple Heavy Armors (Steel Plate and Nordic Carved (requires Dragonborn)) that are boosted by the Advanced Armors perk on the Light Armor side of the Smithing tree, dunno.

If you're on PC there are a few mods which re-arrange the smithing perk tree, I use "Treebalance- Smithing Tree" which i found on Steam. It does a great job of fixing the perk system for that skill. It also adds a few new perks which make it easier to find materials and increases production rates for tanning and smelting, etc.