You forgot one...

3. Die eventually.

There's that word again - "forced". I think this forum needs a Inigo Montoya to pop in and say "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

For something that is completely optional and total voluntary I struggle to see the "forced" bit. Add in the fact you can reach the armor limit without them and I think it would take considerable mental gymnastics for me to see how helmets are forced on the player.

Ultimately they are something you get to choose and carry benefits. You want the benefits you wear the helmet. You don't you... don't.

Sorry.

No, I shall never submit! I'm a legend in my own mind and refuse to conform to the status quo.... death to the Imperials!
(sorry, got carried away there)

What's the armor cap? I have a little over 5 or 600 without a helmet.

The game doesn't force helmets onto anyone, sorry. Out of my five characters, only one is wearing a helmet at all and even he can and will take it off when not in battle. (Protip: Quickmenu.) I tend to forget to put it back on quite often and the fact I usually don't realize it until the fight is over is somewhat telling about how important the helmet actually is, isn't it?

You can play the game very well without the additional armor and perk boosts a helmet offers and quite frankly, to expect wearing a helmet to not be beneficial (or beneficial enough to be worth it) would be rather silly. I also like the way it is handled in the Fable series with apparel being mostly cosmetic with social aspects, but it's not like that here and that's fine as well.

Yay for mods.

What about "social clothing"? Y'know like in some games you get your bonuses from your helmets and armour but are able to dress yourself over the top with whataver you want. Yeah sure, it's not exaclty the realism that TES strives for but jeesh I love cruising about in some dandy fine clothes and seeing the face of the character I created. I would love to enjoy the armour benefits beneath them as well.

I don't use helmets (hoods occasionally) but you can bind them to your favorites menu and swap with a key at your leisure. Or just complain about it.

I use helmet on my current character for one reason.. To benefit from my magicka enchantment.. When i get better overall gear am going to ditch the helmet in the waters..
They are ugly, have always been.. And the higher ranking gear (i.e ebony/Daedric) the more ugly it gets.. I made a fun character once and cheated my way just to see how the different armor looks like.. I hate everything beyond steel really

It strikes me as a little weird to basically say, "I feel forced to do something because you have the option to do it."

If you don't like to wear a helmet, don't take perks that reward wearing a helmet. And if you do take those perks, take some solace in knowing that in the late game, you won't need those perks very much anymore. (I did take those perks, but I like my character's handsome smirk and less-than-optimized Thieves Guild Armor -- he looks good in brown! -- so now I'm perking up Smithing and dressing him how I like.)

You guys missed out the part where a helmet is REQUIRED to make your perk work.

No, you can't fully hit it, because armor provides additional protection beyond the cap.

I don't wear a helmet when I'm out in the wilderness unless I get attacked. But I do wear one while dungeon diving. Cause I too enjoy looking at my character a great deal. So with all that being said, I certainly don't feel like wearing a helmet is 'forced' upon me.

None of my characters wear helmets... ever.
And my Khajiit never wears shoes or boots either. The bonuses and perks aren't necessary.

Because the bonus is for a full set of armour, and the helmet is part of a full set of armour....

My Khajiit usually wears just a circlet. She's got a helm she can wear in really heavy battles, but so far there hasn't been much need for it. Also, when it's snowing or raining, she'll put on a nice, warm furry hat.

So practically
1. You are saying that you can't reach the same amount of armour/combat effectiveness playing without a helmet, as opposed to playing with a helmet?
2. So you are saying that it shouldn't matter if you were wearing a helmet or not
3. So you want helmets to have no function?
4. You don't like wearing a helmet, thus helmets should give no advantage?

I must admit I was a tad disappointed when first playing that there was no " Hide Helmet " option. I got used to it once I finished my Daedric Armor.

all helmets should double as cooking pots.

I rarely use helmets, would rather see my characters face than get a minor armor boost.

He isn't saying that. He's saying (among other things):

1. Your leg and torso armor doesn't give you a 25% bonus unless you're wearing a helmet (neither do your gloves nor your boots).
2. Your stamina regenerates faster when you're wearing helmet than when you're not.
3. You dodge better when you're wearing a helmet than when you're not.

It's a wonky system

Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

If you build a reasonably strong combination of armor, perks and oversmithing you will reach the armor class limit with most armor before the end of the game.

I do agree that the game restricts you somewhat, but a major reason is that spell making and enchanting can not by hyper-utilized as they were in Morrowind; though much equipment is upgradeable it often encourages you to just scrap a look and get a matched suit of the best stuff; until later in the game when you're really armored up.

I agree with you OP. I don't like all the armour perks being centered around having to wear a helmet either. It's good because it means I can focus on other perks and so far I haven't noticed being too weak not wearing one.

My Redguard's dread Mohawk is too cool to hide!

Personally I wear a mask.

I don't really understand the original posters point - it's not forced upon you, it's a choice. It makes sense for you to get bonuses for a full set of armour and to not include the helmet would be ridiculous.
As for people complaining that you have to get certain perks (Which you don't use) in order to unlock perks which you actually want I think this also seems logical as you have to be more proficient with the armour to get the higher level perks - this includes both your level within that skill class and also the pre-requisite perks.

I just think they could have been more original with the perks for armour. Bar the first perk, they're all based on you having to wear a full set.