[StarManta]

I still don't think that would work, because the maximums just remain in effect. That said, this is a pretty minor wrinkle that's not really necessary to the story - it seems unlikely that Puck has much more cyberware than little stuff like the datajack, and probably won't have more than 1 Essence lost.

[CanRay]

Seems like a time-consuming, expensive, and fruitless effort. What's the point? (Especially in terms of this story)

SCIENCE!

[Sengir]

Augmentation, p. 88-89. Costs 75,000¥+20,000¥/month, repairs 0.1 Essence for every month of treatment. So removing a datajack would take 1 month and only cost them 95,000¥.

Problem is, Whites had significantly more than just a Datajack, check out RA:S

[FastJack]

Augmentation, p. 88-89. Costs 75,000¥+20,000¥/month, repairs 0.1 Essence for every month of treatment. So removing a datajack would take 1 month and only cost them 95,000¥.

Problem is, Whites had significantly more than just a Datajack, check out RA:S

True, but Puck was brought in from the outside as a true-believer, instead of a convert like many of the other Deus-babies. So, there's nothing to say that he had to have the augmentation done. Also, Deus might have known that those with "true" abilities would suffer from Essence loss... *shrug*

[Sichr]

Since Deus as AI is forbid to pose Resonance, so possibly would not understand it and augment...as in every other case...

[Sengir]

Problem is, Whites had significantly more than just a Datajack, check out RA:S

True, but Puck was brought in from the outside as a true-believer, instead of a convert like many of the other Deus-babies. So, there's nothing to say that he had to have the augmentation done.

Again, this is addressed in RA:S, page 82 to be precise:
The standard package for Banded consists of: BTL Stimulator, Carcerand Release Receiver, Commlink 8, Cyberears (Hearing Amp, Select Filter 5), Cybereyes (Thermo, Low Light, Flare Comp, Vision Magnification 3), Invoked Memeory Stimulator (alphaware), Snake-Eyes Link (betaware)

Otaku not created by Deus do not get the BTL Stimulator and IMS

All Whites additionally get a Datajack 4 w/ ASIST Conver and Cerebral Booster 2

A 5-Band White additionally gets: Headware Memory (300 MP), Math SPU 4, Encephalon 3

All in all, the standard 5-Band White is at 1 Essence. In later books the implants and Essence costs underwent come re-adjustment, but all in all a high-ranking otaku won't have more than ~2.5 Essence. Deus liked to keep his little toys under control, and why would Puck have refused a gift from his god which improves his abilities?

Also, Deus might have known that those with "true" abilities would suffer from Essence loss... *shrug*

Back then, otaku didn't care about Essence loss.

[FastJack]

I'm just spit-ballin' ideas for possible reasons. Deus was able to "create" otaku. We know that Pax and Puck were true-believers before Deus took over Renraku, he might have trusted them as lieutenants to not need the added augmentations. And, as they talk about it in Street Legends, Puck is all about the Matrix and doesn't care for the real world at all, so things like Cyberears, etc. wouldn't interest him. The Cerebral Booster and other Headware might, but then again, it might not.

[Sengir]

We know that Pax and Puck were true-believers before Deus took over Renraku

That's why otaku who had previously accepted Deus' divinity did not get the BTL Stimulator and IMS.

No matter how you twist and turn it, the rules for what cyber Whites got are quite clear-cut. And the stats for Pax have been given previously, she too has the eyes and ears.

[CanRay]

There'd also be the essence hole for his Ultraviolet-Node Addiction, which Pax would be suffering from as well.

That's one bad jones, man.  Screw him being an AI, Dues was The Pusher, Man.  'Course, the thing he pushed the most was Religion, man, and that's a bad scene!

[Angelone]

When the world changed they didn't need the ware anymore and it was retconned out. Simple as that. It's like arguing how characters who were over the caps got limited down to them. The rules changed.

[CanRay]

Yet FastJack still has his Math SPU.

...

No, not that FastJack, the other one!

[Angelone]

He wants to be able to help the grankids with their homework no shame in that.

[CanRay]

I know FastJack had a faded Otaku daughter (Who may or may not be a Technomancer now), but does she have kids?

And I think he's had more than enough of the grand-nieces and grand-nephews. 

[Lacynth40]

I think Perri is a Technomancer... Either way, wouldn't she be in some Denver book, or something? I think she's one of the people in charge of the Denver Nexus, if I read right...

[FastJack]

I think Perri is a Technomancer... Either way, wouldn't she be in some Denver book, or something? I think she's one of the people in charge of the Denver Nexus, if I read right...

She was mentioned in one of the short stories in Street Legends as still being with the Denver Nexus.