Great find! I was hoping for something like that in the original film, I never liked the helmet and suit they went with.
I used to think that the helmet made more sense from a "real-world" perspective. But when you think about it, how much more realistic is it that Osborn would have a Goblin helmet made up versus a Goblin mask? After all, he was insane and had the means to have either of those crazy things made.
I wonder if it was a logistical issue, as makeup like that would take hours to apply and remove, whereas a helmet is quick to put on and take off. It could also be that the makeup is truly creepy, and it might've been a little too scary for their target audience.
I supose you could make a case that they were worried it could come off as a little silly looking, especially with those ears, but the helmet was pretty much the same design, just in a static position.