Escort carriers faced same predisposition from admiralty that carriers did before world war 2 start even after they staved of japanese fleet impressing them as normal carrier fleet and became common complement for close air support on land. They cost 1/10 of what combat carrier would have cost, and their 1/5 deck size meant they were twice as efficient in carrying air power. I don't belief all that armor of typical carrier did much in way of other than protecting from kamikaze strikes and the improved damage control that came with the same package since vessel became in-disposable.