Hoplite confusion

Hi Paul.
I think you've hit another area between what we know and what we "know". From my reading there would be linen cuirasses present during the Persian Wars. At Platea, there would almost certainly be unarmoured hoplites. But you will find debate on all the details because of the scant actual archaeological remains. Too much of the detail was perishible. Did everybody have crests? Were all shields covered in bronze? Who painted what and when? etc etc.
My view of Early v Late Hoplite Greek is more about evolution of secondary troops rather than armour. For representation on the gaming table, I use the theory that Greeks were relatively poor before the Persian Wars, relatively wealthy after the Persian Wars and then relatively poor during the Peloponnesian War with some recovery after. So I decorate according to that. At least I would, but most of my hoplites are well over 15 years old!

Cheers

Jim