At this point I suspect that CCP is inspired by doom3-style demonology. In theological/occult literature, demonic creatures are said to wear a grey metallic-lik

At this point I suspect that CCP is inspired by doom3-style demonology. In theological/occult literature, demonic creatures are said to wear a grey metallic-like shell instead of skin, that makes them nearly invincible: even a nuclear strike wouldn't break them. However that super-shield has a weakness: it conducts heat, so its owners suffer greatly from cold and heat. It's not impossible that a bored dictator, havong nothing else to do, will try to recreate this material.