From everything I read, lights were useless, but mediums were as fast as lights in T2. I played all armors last night and couldn't tell much of a difference between the medium and the light. The light seemed perfect to me. So did the medium.
I also really like the health kit system now better than previously.
Irrational is simplifying everything so you will have less to worry about and can spend that extra time dueling it out. I like many of the changes. Just takes getting use to.