I probably should have been more clear about this before, but there is still something about that brown "Y" shaped part that bothers me - As it is right now it looks rather...historical, making the whole thing look more like something archaic from one of the world wars of the mid-20th Century. It strikes me as looking the opposite of something that I think would work better, something sleek and futuristic of the future setting of the game that would be high-tech. I think the color especially adds to the problem, the brown with copper buckles. Again, if it was different, something for equipment and was black with either chrome or black metal buckles/snaps, or perhaps something with some shade of grey, it would look much better IMO. As it is right now I just see suspenders that make it look like something that isn't even contemporary of present day, it doesn't look like a modern, clean-cut uniform of an elite soldier with the best Earth-based technology available.
I do, however, also think you're right about the fact that for it to be for equipment it should be modeled differently instead of painted on.
If we're going to replace the soldier models we need to have something well-done and futuristic, high-tech - but not fantasy-ish, and something that we would be comfortable with in the game for quite some time.
Here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to try working with the model again, and come up with at least one other version of the mesh that might work better, I've already got some ideas of how to go about it - in particular with the equipment vest. We may have to try this several times and then pick out the one that came out the best. I'm not trying to be an extreme perfectionist, but I'd like for there to be a new soldier model that really fits well with a good amount of time and thought put into it.
Winter of course is welcome to disagree with me, but these are my thoughts so far.
Please don't throw anything out though, anything we don't use for the standard soldiers we could likely always use for something else.