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Irridium:

Survivability vs ML, Autocannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/6) = 10/108 or 10.8 shots / kill

Survivability vs Lascannon, Meltagun, Multi-Melta/Shot
(2/3)(5/6) = 5/9 or 1.8 shots / kill

Survivability vs Plasma, Starcannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6) = 5/9 or (2)(3.6) = 4.5 shots / kill

Survivability vs Bolter
(2/3)(1/2)(1/6) = 1/6 or (2)(18) = 36 shots / kill

Shield Generator

Survivability vs ML, Autocannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2) = 5/18 or 3.6 shots / kill

Survivability vs Lascannon, Meltagun, Multi-Melta/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2) = 5/18 or 3.6 shots / kill

Survivability vs Plasma, Starcannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2) = 5/18 or (2)(3.6) = 7.2 shots / kill

Survivability vs Bolter
(2/3)(1/2)(1/3) = 1/9 or (2)(9) = 18 shots / kill

Stim Injector

Survivability vs ML, Autocannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6) = 5/9 or 1.8 shots / kill

Survivability vs Lascannon, Meltagun, Multi-Melta/Shot
(2/3)(5/6) = 5/9 or 1.8 shots / kill

Survivability vs Plasma, Starcannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2) = 5/18 or (2)(3.6) = 7.2 shots / kill

Survivability vs Bolter
(2/3)(1/2)(1/3)(1/2) = 1/18 or (2)(18) = 36 shots / kill

On to the combinations:

Shield Generator + Stim Injector

Survivability vs ML, Autocannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2) = 5/18 or 3.6 shots / kill

Survivability vs Lascannon, Meltagun, Multi-Melta/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2) = 5/18 or 3.6 shots / kill

Survivability vs Plasma, Starcannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2)(1/2) = 5/36 or (2)(7.2) = 14.4 shots / kill

Survivability vs Bolter
(2/3)(1/2)(1/3)(1/2) = 1/18 or (2)(18) = 36 shots / kill

Irridium + Stim Injector

Survivability vs ML, Autocannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/6) = 10/108 or 10.8 shots / kill

Survivability vs Lascannon, Meltagun, Multi-Melta/Shot
(2/3)(5/6) = 5/9 or 1.8 shots / kill

Survivability vs Plasma, Starcannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2) = 5/18 or (2)(3.6) = 7.2 shots / kill

Survivability vs Bolter
(2/3)(1/2)(1/6)(1/2) = 1/36 or (2)(36) = 72 shots / kill

Shield Generator + Irridium

Survivability vs ML, Autocannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/6) = 10/108 or 10.8 shots / kill

Survivability vs Lascannon, Meltagun, Multi-Melta/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2) = 5/18 or 3.6 shots / kill

Survivability vs Plasma, Starcannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2) = 5/18 or (2)(3.6) = 7.2 shots / kill

Survivability vs Bolter
(2/3)(1/2)(1/6) = 1/6 or (2)(18) = 36 shots / kill

The Works:  Shield Generator, Irridium and Stim Injector

Survivability vs ML, Autocannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/6)(1/2) = 10/216 or 21.6 shots / kill

Survivability vs Lascannon, Meltagun, Multi-Melta/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2) = 5/18 or 3.6 shots / kill

Survivability vs Plasma, Starcannon/Shot
(2/3)(5/6)(1/2)(1/2) = 5/36 or (2)(7.2) = 14.4 shots / kill

Survivability vs Bolter
(2/3)(1/2)(1/6)(1/2) = 1/72 or (2)(72) = 144 shots / kill

====

Conclusion:

Even with the works, survivability vs Lascannon, Meltagun, Multi-Melta is pretty terrible.  You can improve the odds with shield drones, but it just doesn't seem worth it, as that configuraton runs 50 points - or near the cost of another suit.

The only use I can see for the survivability upgrades would be the stim-injector + vectored retro-thrusters for an "in your face" disruption type Shas-O. - Fusion Blaster, CIB, MT.  With 4 wounds, it'll take 72 bolter shots wo cut him down.  Careful charging will protect him from those insta-kill guns and powerfists.  Vectored engines will let him disengage when the PF does its pile in move.

Shield generators are made obsolete by the jump pack run-and-gun.

Irridium armour is useless IMO.

it's only useless in your force.

my sha'o has the works-iridium, shield, stim injectors. they have paid for themselves in every game i have used him in. then again he is the only crisis suit i have on the table because i have to take him. everything else i field is in the devilfish or hammerheads variety. if it wasn't for the +1 requirement i would just have an etherial with another firewarrior squad in yet an additional devilfish.

I have never actually fielded a Shas'o/el with a shield gen but I can see how they would be useful and I will be trying them out, at the end of the day though the main thing I use to keep my Shas'o/el alive is the IC rules (which are actually terribly taken advantage of with the Tau crisis suits, especially when you put a couple of gun drones in front of him that come off a fish.

I am interested in what kind of weapons load out you have used.

As far as I can tell, the best survivability upgrade is free:  Tau Jet Pack,:  As Monty Python succintly state, in reference to "How Not to be Seen"

"In this landscape is Mr. E. R. Bradshaw of Napier Court, Black Lion Road, London SE 14. But he cannot be seen." -  The narrator asks him to stand up; he complies and immediately gets shot.- "This demonstrates the value of not being seen."

The second survivability upgrade is not wargear.  A mandatory Monat Shas-O can claim protection from nearby squads...

Theoryhammer would indicate that the in-your-face variety has a 1 in 4 chance of getting punked with a meltagun or a lascannon shot, which to me, is unacceptable considering the amount of extra wargear that has been purchased.  All for a model that is non-scoring.

I think stim injectors are worthwhile, because it is an EXTRA 4+ save, not a save replacement. You dont always get it but you can afford to expose your Commander to basic infantry firepower. Three/Four wounds and 3+ followed by 4+ is very good survivability.

Also your maths are wrong for Stim Injectors. Feel No Pain doesnt prevent instant kill or close combat attacks for which you have no save. Autocannon dont apply (though a missile launcher does). Neither do HB, donkeys (unless they rend) etc etc. Even with a shield generator there is no wisdom in exposing a Commander to a lascannon, you are asking to lose it, however Commanders should be able to slug it out with basic infantry.

You are right that stim injectors are best used with anti horde weapons loadout. Therefore it may be better as an option for a Monat Shas'vre, Commanders are too valuable for that role.