Flux agrees: Wizard = Sorceress

[HerlockS]

One word springs to mind here - Comfort.
Call it a dressing gown or a bathrobe, I don't think there's a piece of clothing more comfy to wear - lots of people don't get dressed when they're off work, simply because they don't need to - and that's the second point I want to make.

The barbarian is in melee all the time - he needs the armour to prevent damage - a sorcerer/wizard would rely on not getting hit in the first place...
And, remember - the D2 sorc finds melee combat vulgar, so why should she kit herself out for it?

Doing Martial Arts myself, I know for a fact that I'd not like the idea of attempting a roundhouse kick in a full suit of armour :P

[Asrrin]

In D&D, the reasoning behind restricting armor for caster classes is two-fold. one, all the time spent studying and training in magic leaves little room to train to wear heavier armors or be physically strong enough to. and second, most spells require a somatic component to casting the spell (such as hand gestures, drawing on the soil or in the air with body parts, etc.) and having heavy armor impedes the user from completing complex maneuvers required to cast spells. Imagine trying to lift your arms above your head wearing the full plate armor of a medieval jouster.

[Raxxman]

Armour isn't as restrictive as you're making it out to be, you should have no problem getting your arms over your head in a suit of platemail.

[Grumpy Old Wizard]

You definately would not be adept at making precise and delicate arcane gestures while wearing full plate mail, including plate gloves. Or even chain gloves. See if you can get a chance to put on some full plate sometimes.

Have you ever even worn a pair of leather work gloves? Your fingers are not very nimble in those either.

[Raxxman]

actually I do work regually with thick gloves doing complex work in an isolation hood. You do get the hang of it.