Beware of the Microwave Cookers, they still one-shot you, and the Canister Guns will reduce armor even without scoring a penetration (in Extended), so we're getting there, rest assured.
But anyway, if you get to the point you can build these suits, you have earned it. Or you're savescumming like's no tomorrow, which kinda counts too (the sheer amount of work...).
@ Zharkov: Yes exactly the kind of experiments I was thinking
The slave units can be progressively more useful, too (well, we're starting at the rock bottom anyway
). I will make sure to fit them in the game balance. Oh yeah and I will probably add bats as enemies quite soon...