[ilyt]

The transmitted energy does end in your body in case of normal bulletproof vest tho. Only very little is converted into heat, the main job is to spread it around. Movies as usual do a terrible job of portraying reality here.

Ceramics aren't used because they break on impact, they are used because they are harder per kg than steel so the whole thing can be lighter.

Imaginary "unbreakable plate" would still be backed by layers designed to slow down the pulse and dissipate that energy and if it was thinner and lighter than ceramics that means you can put more materials behind it and still come out ahead