This is for a WotR character and I'm using level estimates for tier access based off those books.
Enduring Armor gives you 3+mythic tier force armor which is always on.
Component Freedom allows you to ignore 1 component (V, S, M, F) when you cast a spell (up to 100xtier gp for M or F).
Enduring Armor - Max 13 Armor Bonus
Pros:
Available at Mythic tier 1 ~level 5 for WotR
Free
Works in Form of the Dragon (Not of huge import for this character since she'll be mostly using a falchion)
No Encumbrance or speed restrictions.
No Max Dex to AC (unimportant for this character with a 12 Dex)
Force effect so good against incorporeal
Cons:
No special armor enchantments
Slightly lower max AC than fullplate +5
Lower up front AC (Only +4 at ~lvl 5 and doesn't equal mundane plate until ~Lvl 14)
Component Freedom - Max 14 Armor Bonus (+5 Platemail)
Pros:
Versatility - If not in armor or casting a spell without somatic components you can cast silently or reduce material component costs
Slightly higher max armor
Can have special armor enchantments (Not sure how valuable this pro is. I rarely ever buy armor enchantments and none of them jump out at me as must haves. Advice here would be helpful.)
Much higher AC early game. (As soon as you can afford/find it)
Cons:
EXPENSIVE! +10 (5 enhance/5 other) mithral fullplate is ~112,000 gp
Lose armor bonus in FotD
Slowed Movement
Later access to casting without failure (~level 9-11)
Max Dex +3 in mithral fullplate
I'm torn. My character is more of a beast build (10 caster levels over 20 levels) so delayed access to component freedom doesn't hurt quite as much. That said, at max level I'm only looking at a 1 AC difference and as I've mentioned, I'm not sure how good the special armor enchantments are.
Any thought's/suggestions are appreciated.
Those sound like su abilities or are they sp? Anhow if they are su they don't qualify. If they are sp I'm not sure.
I would go with Enduring Armor if you are planning to use Dragon Form. Otherwise, go with component Freedom.
Most special armor enhancements aren't worth it. The only ones I can think of are Brawling (for unarmed characters), and the one that casts a free Breath of Life on you when you his 0 HP.
On the flipside, Component Freedom will let you cast Stoneskin for free, so maybe lower armor is a tradeoff for having DR/10 Adamantine all day erry day.
If it's possible to get both, I say snag Component Freedom second. Have both, be happy. If not, the armor might be a better option. Better to not be hit than be hit and hurt less.
Oh woops I scanned the question and apparently misunderstood. Ignore my posts.