gorice
Hero
I wouldn't say 'no choice' exactly, since the better options are expensive, and some characters, like melee rangers, might want both protection and stealth, but I take your point.in 5E there is no real choice
you have studded leather for light.
you aim for halfplate with medium or if your REALLY aim for stealth it will be breastplate, but that will be aimed towards mithral halfplate.
and you have full-plate for heavy. or if you're lucky mithral or adamantium version of it.
same as in 3.5e;
there was 3 basic armors only: chainshirt, breastplate, full-plate.