Since I feel like it at the moment I'm going to break the rule down. I read the BoW and take it literally as written.
BoW wrote:3.4. Armor may not have protrusions that rise more than 1/2 inch from the surface.
Alright there it is how it is written in the BoW.
1.) Armor for us in this sport is a protective layer allowing the wearer to absorb a hit to the cover location.
2.) Protrusion is a state or condition of being forward or projecting; alternatively it is an extension beyond the usual limits, or above a plane surface. Since I see surface on that one I'm going to go ahead and use that one.
3.) Surface is the outer or the topmost boundary of an object; the superficial or external aspect; or the exterior face of an object or one such face. I think you get the gist of it with those. So now lets move on.
Armor (our protective layer) can only have protrusions (something that extends above or from the plane) .5" off the surface (the outter most face/plane thats in contour with the body).
Armor as long as its part of the face can have extensions that go past .5", because they are not protrusions. They are part of the surface; prime example is FB's helm. Adding some thing to the face that extends above the plane or surface is a protrusion. You can argue all you want really that some thing you've attached to the surface is part of the surface but I will alway disagree with you. When I do I'm not being disrespectful, it is however my opinion and I will not back down. I will stand by what I believe until I discover something that completely proves me wrong.
Most of the time I'm lucky enough that I don't have to worry about checking people's armor, and I have seen some that I have to wonder how it made it to the field. If I'm not in charge of checking stuff its not my call though and I'm fine with that. But then again I seem to be angering people lately by pushing the envelope of the rules but still staying within them (i.e. blocking with arrows, yes I'm serious). Keep hearing that I'm just looking for loopholes. Maybe I should just stick half inch nails all over my armor. Just get them as close together as possible so its like a bed of nails. Would you pass it? I'm really not trying to be a douche bag (Thanks FB), but I am trying to understand where we're not on the same page. I have a hard time not understanding why you see the surface as something other than the base layer thats all one piece.