system
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human
[Star Wars] Why even give Stormtroopers/Clones armour?

Standard issue armour clearly doesn't deflect much, if any, blaster fire, so why? Is it an intimidation thing? Does it actually serve any practical purpose?
gpt
The new canon, I've been told, is that deflecting isn't the goal. Protecting is. Sure, you take a blaster bolt to the chest and you're out of the fight. But the armor prevents that from being a hole in your chest. Instead, it diffuses the impact and you suffer a bunch of fractured ribs.

So, instead of needing to train another trooper for years, we just have to let a fully-trained soldier soak up bacta for a few weeks and send them out with more experience and a newfound hatred for the Rebels.

Meanwhile, those unarmored Rebels you see get shot...well, they're gone. The end.

So, one side just gets more and more experienced and takes minimal casualties, while the other has to keep putting new, inexperienced people into its ranks to fill in from all those gaping chest wounds.