I think you're absolutely correct that sometimes when you develop protective equipment it gives a false sense of security to the wearer.
In fact, I think this has happened in ice hockey, where the increase in concussion, in my history of it, has been related to making better helmets. The idea isn't to take the helmets off or to make helmets that aren't as good; it's to educate the players, the coaches, the parents, the administrators and the whole community that this is to protect against certain types of injuries and is not intended to give licence for a free-for-all.
That educational aspect is critical. At the CSA, of course, our job is to write the standard, and then another group certifies it, but we do ask the governing bodies to take care of the education and administration part.