Slitherine

Many lists allow multiple gradings for different troop types.
superior protected and armored average foot generally cost the same.
Which do you prefer and why?

Everybody knows the odds. Armoured are better.

You need a choice of "it depends." Although, to be sure, most of the time armored are preferable. But there are some times in which protected superior might be better. For instance, a BG of heavy weapon troops. Or a BG whose primary role will be shooting.

Marc

Or when fighting cats or other heavily armoured troops. Or unprotected rubbish. Or when you need to make a CMT. Or test in a situation where armour does not make it less likely that you would need to test - like friends breaking or death of a general. Or so you can use them as rear support for something else that is superior. Or when being hit in the flank/rear (not that I am suggesting this is a possibility you should ever actively design your army to cope with )

So...I agree on the need for "it depends".

Tricky one. With my Dom Roms I do often deploy the legionaries as armoured but never superior, so you might say that indicates which side of the fence I would come down on if pressed. But that is at least partly because a) I'm not keen on the concept of skilled swordsmen, and b) there are usually other types of BGs I would prefer to use my limited capability to upgrade to superior on, so I'm really not sure.

My reason is more due to the armies I play:

I usually play Successor armies and I prefer my Thorakatai (armoured average) over my elite phalangites (superior protected)...

Then again, I frequently play against Romans, so I often deal with armoured superior; I almost always feel like I'm fighting uphill battles.

Seeing as you don't know everything your troops will get up to when you design your list, you will have to generalise.

I like armoured for everything except shooters and heavy weapon.

Where's the choice "it's depend?"
If you know you will be outclassed any time, I prefer superior protected specially with cavalry.
If your BG has a role of support in your army, armoured average is better to remind you some modesty

I would take superior protected bow sword cavalry in an instant over average armoured.

If you are talking non missile infantry then I would tend towards the armoured average.

Put me down for "It depends"