To be honest I think it's just for fun, not something meant to make a whole lot of sense. If I had to give it an explanation maybe it adds some sort of anti-aetherial coating to his armor? Nero has something similar in that his suit can manifest itself and disappear at the push of a button. It probably wasn't mass produced because A: technology is time consuming and expensive, and B: Garleans are egomaniacs to the extreme, you really think they're gonna let common footsoldiers wear the same grade armor as them?