So what's with a shield, anyways?
Yea, at first you think that a shield is something that you use to block incoming attacks. Fine.
But then ...
- You protect yourself from floor spikes
- If you're put on fire, it keeps you from taking damage from the heat
- 360 degree coverage
- Tree-sized constructs with a thwack that looks to be more power than your arm strength can deflect is tossed aside like nothing. Doesn't even break the proto shield.
Lets face it, these are portable, arm-mounted force field generators. And fire retardants.
...
So why can't you turn them on when you pick up a key?
Meh.
Let's just say that they are only operitable when at least arm is free and wither or not if they are fire retardant won't matter if they are force/energy field.
In a related note I think those are more like sonic barrier/dispersion.