Yeah, but I don't think that's a necessary change to the character. What difference does it make whether he wears the helmet here or not? He'll still be able to do the same thing that the Chief wants him to do. That could have been left out altogether without making the slightest change to the story, but that way the writer wouldn't get to sneer at the helmet. I also think it looks pretty nifty, in a retro sort of fashion - it's distinctive, and that's what counts. You can pick Mento out of a crowd for the simple reason that no one else is likely to be wearing a helmet like that.