Actually armor classes can be "higher" than zero, but that required magical means, and incredibly good dexterity. It is 3e rules that causes the AC bonus from dexterity to be limited by armor. A person with Full plate, 18 dexterity and a ring of protection +2 or better will have ac better than -4 easily.
All the work is saddled with the DM. He can run your world as a magic barren world, where everything lies in luck and skill, or a monty haul, where even the dumbest little trinket is made of magic.
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