Originally it was small pieces you combine in creative ways to build something.
Now all the sets have these huge specialty pieces that are barely usable outside of that 1 set design. Like the giant cockpit things that are 1 big hinged piece.
One option: They could have used leather for basic armor and then turtle shells for a better set and then gold for the best. Just use existing things and combine them in new ways. It is so much better that way.
There are SO many things in MC that have exactly 0 or 1 purpose and nothing more and that is such a shame.