Fluff vs. Mechanics

[diplomancer]

the metal armor restriction can go sit with alignment in the pile of things that need to just @$!? Or get off the pot. restrictions without consequences are like the sign in the movie theater that tells you not to bring food in.

If that's how you feel, houserule it away. It's your game, D&D police is not going to your house to arrest you. Boost (or nerf) druids (or any other class) to your (and your players') heart's desire. What I find odd is the insistence that allowing Druids to wear metal armor is not a houserule.

For me, druids are fine sitting around Dex 16 until around levels 6-8, where it's ok to give them a boost. It's just convenient (and probably not even intended by the designers) that the metal armor restriction rule in the PHB allows it to work like that just fine.