For those of you who use or have used load bearing molle-type carriers for soft armor in patrol work:
Do you also carry a plate carrier with hard plates? I don't see how a plate carrier could effectively fit over a vest with equipment on it.
Do you plan to remove the soft armor vest and don the hard plates if the situation warrants it? If so, do you keep essential equipment attached to the plate carrier at all times, or do you also plan to swap certain items from vest to vest (the portable radio comes to mind)?
I personally do not like the idea of having to swap vests. In this one respect, I think that having a traditional duty belt + slick carrier/concealed armor is better than a load bearing vest, although the latter has many advantages.
What are your thoughts?