Interesting stuff, Sir Brian. I'm with Sir Edward on this one, I don't think the zombie 'craze' as it were is going anywhere. People have been fascinated with the idea of undead beings preying upon the living for a lot longer than the span of the modern era.
I just hope that if it happens, they are NOTHING like the zombies in World War Z- if they can move as fast as you or I can, we'll be in a hell of a lot of trouble!
By the by, you don't see anyone wearing armor because there probably isn't any that they're aware of, beyond the riot gear that is used by some of the characters in Walking Dead (I'm on the penultimate ep of season 3 by the way- great show, but the comics it is based on are even better). If there were a medieval student and/or re-enactor, we might see some cool stuff but from what I've read, nothing like that's coming down the pike.
I have often fantasized, while watching the show, that I'd be in full war harness, walking down a street with sword drawn and shield at the ready- oh, the carnage! As I don't normally wear a full harness, I like to think I'd be lighter on my feet (typically, I'll wear a gorget, spaulders over a hauberk, knees and greaves over heavy leather boots and a helm) but a full harness would be the ultimate in protection. I don't care how strong or relentless they are, they're still made of human components and there's not a set of real teeth anywhere that'll pierce steel plate (unless its decorative in which case it might work, might not). I'd also carry my axe strapped over the shoulder in case the sword gets fouled up in guts and I can't withdraw it fast enough. A few daggers in case it gets that bad and both main weapons are temporarily unavailable.
Still, at least in the show, I think the biggest threat to the group's survival is other humans.
