[JanessaVR]

Martial arts ranks are a quantifiable ranking measure of ones skill level in the unarmed arts. They are representations that are also labeled in a literal way like you'd see on a character sheet (and in some game systems, literally are).

No, those are purely subjective measurements that are unique to a given martial art form/tradition.  Game stat ratings are objective ratings, each rating point signifying one 6-sided die to be rolled (for the Shadowrun game system, in this instance).

For instance, I hereby found the martial art of "Janessa-Fu," and I decree that it has 313 ranks.  Why 313?  Maybe I like prime numbers, maybe I just drew it out of a hat.

But a quick check of Wikipedia tells me that Taekwondo, for instance, has "color belts" of:  white, white yellow, yellow, yellow green, green, green blue, blue, blue red, red and red black.

Sounds like their ranks wouldn't translate well to Janessa-Fu ranks (and prospective students must memorize the 313 unique color shades before advancing to Rank 2 - yes, there will be a test later).  And how would either directly translate to the Shadowrun game system?  They don't.

[Moonshine Fox]

Um, for a skill, that's what the table on page 131 is for. People in game will refer to ones level of skill in something (or power when talking about magic) that is more abstract, and sometimes that abstraction can be a literal number. I could easily see more academically minded mages referring to themselves like this, even if others think it's a dumb way of trying to measure something that is more arbitrary. You could use that table to mark a "title" to ones level of advance mystic knowledge. Are you a level 2 initiate, your character is still a novice when it comes to the higher arts of magic. Are you a rank 10 initiate, then you are an elite master of the higher arts!

Basically, take the arbitrary out of game number, and give it an arbitrary title relevant to the character that others around her will understand. The reason initiation has an in-game number rank is because the number of times you undergo this arduous process is easy to know and can be quantified by such.

[JanessaVR]

My point is that gaming mechanics should not so directly translate to the reality of the gaming world, which is what the current system of “Initiate Ranks” does.  If you’re going to go that far, you might as well just go all the way and have your characters directly announcing the rest of their stats as well.  “Hey, I know I’m smarter than this other runner, because my Logic rating is a point higher than theirs!”  There’s no difference between a character knowing their “Initiate Rating” and their Logic rating - both are objective, gaming mechanics values.  And at that point, you might as well just acknowledge that your characters all know that they’re merely characters in an RPG world and that their fates are decided by a group of players rolling dice.

Suspension of disbelief is broken when you can plainly see the gaming mechanics so blatantly intruding on the game world.  The “Initiate Ranks” system is essentially vending machine magic.  Do the same thing over and over again, pay your Karma, and come away with exactly one shiny new toy each time.  “Welcome to the Metaplanes Warehouse!  Please, look over our selection of attractive metamagics.  Pick out the one you want and bring it to the counter to pay with Karma when you’re ready.  Thank you and please come again!”  It kind of re-casts the Dweller on the Threshold as a sort of store security guard with a bad attitude, who gets his jollies hassling the shoppers.

[Reaver]

Maybe they use a lumin scale based off of auras....

[MijRai]

You do realize it is okay for the mechanics to translate to the reality of the game occasionally, yes?  I mean, the mechanics are based on how people think it would work.  If people across various traditions advance in power (if not in direction) at a similar rate, then a general 'hey, they are at ___-level' is going to happen no matter what.  That it could be seen in a similar light to the mechanical version isn't really a flaw.  The mechanical version is there to delineate between various power levels already. 

Also, while you're entitled to your opinion, a number of us do not agree with it, so making it sound like yours is the only truth doesn't really appeal. 

[Senko]

My point is that gaming mechanics should not so directly translate to the reality of the gaming world, which is what the current system of “Initiate Ranks” does.  If you’re going to go that far, you might as well just go all the way and have your characters directly announcing the rest of their stats as well.  “Hey, I know I’m smarter than this other runner, because my Logic rating is a point higher than theirs!”  There’s no difference between a character knowing their “Initiate Rating” and their Logic rating - both are objective, gaming mechanics values.  And at that point, you might as well just acknowledge that your characters all know that they’re merely characters in an RPG world and that their fates are decided by a group of players rolling dice.

Suspension of disbelief is broken when you can plainly see the gaming mechanics so blatantly intruding on the game world.  The “Initiate Ranks” system is essentially vending machine magic.  Do the same thing over and over again, pay your Karma, and come away with exactly one shiny new toy each time.  “Welcome to the Metaplanes Warehouse!  Please, look over our selection of attractive metamagics.  Pick out the one you want and bring it to the counter to pay with Karma when you’re ready.  Thank you and please come again!”  It kind of re-casts the Dweller on the Threshold as a sort of store security guard with a bad attitude, who gets his jollies hassling the shoppers.

I'm sorry but I'm not seeing how that's different from any other skill. To use your example I create a character who's a master martial artist of JanessaFU each rank (skill point) they take in unarmed combat equates to a die, specialization in JanessaFu = another 2 die when using that style, the advanced skill = a maximum of 13 die from ranks + 2 die from specialization for a total of 15 die for their skill in JanessaFu and then they can't learn any more in that style.

Same with any other skill each skill point purchased = a quantifieable 1 die increase in your skill wheras in real life its not that cut and dried sure but its easy enough to go the other way. I purchase 4 skill ranks in skill X or 4 initiations and I've gained greater knowledge and skill from study and practice that greater ability is what's represented by the extra dice I've gained. I have spent the past four years studying with my mentor spirt and meditating on its lessons in the wilderness as a result I have a greater knowledge and undertsanding of my magic. That is I don't +4 die to magic because I'm a level 4 initiate  but rather I'm a level 4 initiate BECAUSE I have 4 dice more magical skill than someone who didn't spend 4 years with a crotchety spirt slapping you upside the head every time you made a mistake reciting the 313 principles of JanessaFU.

Just like any fourth year in a course is going to be expected to answer questions of a certain difficulty level sure the actual questions might differ based on content level but ANY experienced person in that field will agree if you can't answer their questions you need more study because you aren't at the appopriate level. Its why you have thousands of people with doctorates even if Bob with his doctorate of philosophy or Tom with his engineering doctorate are not who you'd want treating your broken leg.

[Strill]

If you’ve already been “initiated into the deeper mysteries of magic”, then why the heck should you keep doing it again and again?  Were you not paying attention the first time?

I understand your issues with the system, and I sympathize, but I think what they mean by "initiation" is "initiation into ONE of the deeper mysteries". Each initiation introduces you to a new mystery, and also progresses you in all your previous ones, representing your continuing study in those other areas.