I read the book and recommend that others on this forum who just saw the movie also read it. The movie was heavily sanitized by the leftists in hollywood. If I remember correctly, there was a thread on this forum wherein the director, Ridley Scott, was pi$$ed at the hack job.
I respectfully disagree with your conclusion about the armor. A tank would have sent the "skinnies" running. The only time the skinnies showed up for battle was when our guys were surrounded and trapped in those shacks. Even 5 or 6 tanks could have smashed the buildings where the skinnies were amassing and taking pot shots from. I truly believe a few shells from a tank would have taken the fight out of them.
I also recall another thread where Bin Laden was stated that we were cowards and was emboldened to attack us again because he thought that Somalia proved that we would only fight until we suffered casualties. Tell Slick Willie to add that to his legacy also.
I was typing my above post when yours went up, and wanted to take time to respond to your point.
It is possible that heavy tanks would have sent the skinnies running. However, that is what the Black Hawks were supposed to accomplish, too. Hiding in a building with an RPG and taking pot shots at tank treads or the rear of the turret while the armor column waits for the lead tank to clear the roadblock was well within their capabilities. I think I remember that they were also concerned about the possibility of anti-tank mines being incorporated into the roadblocks.