The ones today are 1000% better. Those old external protectors suck so much.The question I have for the umpires here is whether or not they feel the old-school external chest protector was any better than the ones they wear today. Maybe you've never worn one, but I always felt the baseball umpires of the 70s could position themselves better because they weren't as worried about getting plunked with that big thing protecting them.
Not even a contest.
Lighter, move better, easier to get in position (both for pitches and when the ball is in play and I have NEVER been hurt if it I get in the protector so it provides plenty of protection against even there fastest of pitches or foul balls.
Honestly you rarely get hit in the chest protector. If you do, you mostly get hit in the shoulders - which are generally protected with foam and plastic