[Charybdis]

Now I just have to make my players realize just how much I hate number-crunching. "No, seriously, tell me about your character! Stop reading me the stats! I don´t care how you managed to get that skill that high, I´m sure you didn´t cheat so just get over it and tell me about her! Where does she live? Nonono! DON`T give me the lifestyle-ranks! Sheeesh..." They´re really having trouble...

Oh, man! I can relate. Nowadays when this comes up, I deflect them to the one player who really cares about that kind of thing. As long as everyone's happy, I don't care about the details.

There's a balance between stats and character that shifts from player to player.

I like both stats and character to be handed to me so that I can get an idea of what sort of PC and player I'm dealing with:
A) Are they more interested in stats or story? This lets me tailor how I deal with the player, and gives hints as to what they will/won't enjoy at the table, so I can also tailor the campaign
B) Have they taken NQ/PQ's that I need to be aware of (as they mechanically affect NPC attitudes and/or threat levels)
C) Have they got stories with plot points begging to be utilised in-game?

If you read between the lines, Players will give a lot of hints through their PC build...

[Canticle]

Now I just have to make my players realize just how much I hate number-crunching. "No, seriously, tell me about your character! Stop reading me the stats! I don´t care how you managed to get that skill that high, I´m sure you didn´t cheat so just get over it and tell me about her! Where does she live? Nonono! DON`T give me the lifestyle-ranks! Sheeesh..." They´re really having trouble...

Oh, man! I can relate. Nowadays when this comes up, I deflect them to the one player who really cares about that kind of thing. As long as everyone's happy, I don't care about the details.

There's a balance between stats and character that shifts from player to player.

I like both stats and character to be handed to me so that I can get an idea of what sort of PC and player I'm dealing with:
A) Are they more interested in stats or story? This lets me tailor how I deal with the player, and gives hints as to what they will/won't enjoy at the table, so I can also tailor the campaign
B) Have they taken NQ/PQ's that I need to be aware of (as they mechanically affect NPC attitudes and/or threat levels)
C) Have they got stories with plot points begging to be utilised in-game?

If you read between the lines, Players will give a lot of hints through their PC build...

Building the characters with the PCs is the best way to get a handle on it. I was teaching my two new players how to do it and it took four hours, but the process of learning their abilities was worth it.
Keeping a photocopy of the PCs sheets and having them gives the GM a good idea of what they can and cannot do. Since everyone has real life, making the PCs write down a couple sentences about their character including: 'why am I here, why am I a shadowrunner, where did I find my crew, and what do I want' help determine plot points in addition to the qualities. I also force players to make up a list of 'traits' about their character.
Our gun bunny is self conscious and somewhat shy and ashamed of his obvious cyberarms; he wears a leather jacket and gloves to cover up his augmentations. That is outside of the mechanical aspect of the game, but provides role-play opportunities.