I play on a PC and solved the issue in my game with http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=12580 mod. I wear Morokai in place of a helmet.

I'm going to have to check that out. My first character was in ebony + Otar. I loved how that looked and worked. I did not take the matching-set perk, of course. I read somewhere that this perk wouldn't work with ebony anyway (bugged).

Can you hit that cap with steel plate with high smithing but no perk for building it? I always wanted to try out a set but couldn't bring myself to not min/max perks so I avoided it although I started running into people wearing full sets now.

Just loaded up my dual wielder with this in mind, and it looked awesome. Put a scimitar in both hands and off to hunt forsworn, they always seem to be spoiling for a fight anyway.
My heavy armor skill is 100, with 4 perks into juggernaut, well fitted, alchemy, enchanting and the smithing for the throw in for good measure.
Armor rating close to 900.
Still died once, but it was fun

Sounds like your character is a main battle tank. Glad we don't have multiplayer, I would not want to mess with the guy.

The imperial helm is a different set than the plate. I agree, too, that the plate helm is horrid. I don't like any of the closed helms in Skyrim, but the steel plate one is the worst. It doesn't help that is has original xbox quality textures.

It is weird because in past ES games, I always preferred closed helms. this time, the opposite is true.

Ya know, a mod that permitted someone to customize their armor to some extent might be pretty cool. If the mod could allow you to change colors, add stripes or decorations, add ornaments or jewels, even select different styles of the same item.....could be awesome.

Personally feel some of the closed helmets are great (Dwarven, Nightengale), I just find the little wings on the side kinda lame.

But hey that's just a personal preference, I understand that others seem to like it. Just wish they offered you a little more variety in terms of smithed armour.

From what I've read it appears as though I'll be able to smith some pretty strong armour without the matching set bonus and still hit the armour cap. Maybe I'll rock the imperial helmet or go without, guess I don't really need 80% reduction, with restoration I could probably get away with a lot less.

Lol thanks. Those forsworn didn't know what was coming, lol