Banded for PvE if you need dps protection due to your numbers vs. mob dps. Most times you can get away with chain and leather for PvE. But I personally say Banded because of the protection value should you get jumped while grinding out PvE mobs.

*Scale or better for PvP. The exception to the rule of course is those people going full magic/archery who don't have the armored magic/archery up high enough to offset the penalty.

The magnifying skill set that ups the efficiency is Rigor 75+ and Ignore Pain 50+. By the time you have both Rigor and IP above those levels you have turned Banded into Scale, and almost turned Scale in Half Plate.

Don't make me have'ta Troll ya Bro!