This is why I prefer the term "face covering" for cloth "masks." I took the OP's "high end protective mask" to mean something like an N95. I don't know what a "high end cloth face covering" is. Though I might have been wrong in that interpretation of the OP.

That said, there is also evidence and plenty of "expert opinion" that even cloth face coverings may protect your from droplets from those around you to some significant degree. Though I agree the primary utility is thought to be source control. I think the main reason they're advertised mostly for source control purposes is because for them to be good at protecting the wearer, they have to be worn and stored very carefully. And the though is that the general public simply aren't going to learn effective medical-grade mask-wearing practices.