The inertial armor is mostly because, at the outset of the game, the character is a long way from home, and traveling fairly light. No armor, just his weapons and basic supplies.
The game went well. I decided to go with a kind of gruff personality, but still very well meaning. He's kind of latched into the other obvious outsider in the group, and is serving as akind of bodygaurd for that character at present. he has been slightly at odds with some of the group, since he is more selfless, but all in all, things went great.
Thanks for all the advice.