In my opinion, Boba Fett is only the character he is today because of the way he looks. As has been commented many times here on the boards, George Lucas has just been making things up as he goes. Boba Fett was originally a very minor character with nothing to support him but his visual aesthetic. By which I mean, he looked cool. Everyone knows his original color scheme was supposed to be white, and then for his debut he has the revamped, and I think the best color scheme all, with non matching gauntlets and exposed flame unit. He also has several wires hanging off of his armor in different places and an extra belt that is visible on the Kenner photos taken for the original carded figure. One of the coolest aspects of the color prototype armor was his kick *** gloves, the brown and beige two-tone gloves with the military patches. Those gloves totally rocked!
Anyway, the confusion concerning his armor, I believe, is a result of the over elaboration by fans who Lucas has exploited to make more money. Between the comics, novels expanded universe etc. Boba Fett has become something he was never really intended to be, a main character. The fact that we don't have all of the details and back story concerning his armor is, I think, part of what makes him so cool. So much of the mystery surrounding Fett is gone, and I think that has done more to reduce his image than to enhance it.
On another note, Jango's armor looked brand new, Boba's has seen some serious action. My understanding from the received view of a few years back was that there was never supposed to me that much of the stuff around in the first place and I remember reading somewhere that the idea was that he salvaged bits and pieces as he came across them and refurbished them. Does anyone else remember that aspect of the mythology? I think this was well before karen Traviss and all of the other expanded universe crap.
Sorry about the negativity, I am really old-school!
"D'oh!"
[url=http://www.bobafettfanclub.com/multimedia/galleries/thumbnails.php?album=lastupby&uid=1624]My Fan Art[/url]