I can sort of relate why some GMs would prefer skipping over the ST backup process. Seeing it's supposed to be mostly data, electric impulses and such, I can sort of relate with it being provided to be a 'quick update' of already stored ST data.
Meaning that I'd see the remote backup unit as something which would update information that was already obtained via the usual ST backup session.
Note: I understand the impetus behind automating medlabs because it's hard for medical personnel to find things to do... but it is with increasing alarm that I realize that the more and more submissions around that that Nashoba makes, the less and less there is for a medical career character to do within that environment. I sort of agreed with facilitating things in this regard along with providing more tools for the players, but it's my concern that things might be going overboard.
ST backups for KFY are pretty much a staple - one of the few reasons a nekovalkyrja could drop back to the medlab and have a medical examination, inspection and some maintenance done.
It is a hassle to think of it everytime before a mission. Sometimes, it may be forgotten. In that case, the remote unit can have some uses, I agree. However, this is one point where the convenience of this leaves me very ambivalent on the matter.
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Also, I am quite opposed to the SPINE augmentation implant. It's simply not the way it works. That thing is effectively all the NH-29 nekovalkyrja's spinal column and surrounding tissues. Unless you want to make a humpback, you can't go and add implants in that place. Otherwise, you're talking about an operation which practically removes all the subject's spinal column and surounding tissues and replace that with something else.
KFY/KZ would never support that. The Star Army wouldn't either. None of them would have a versed interest into supporting measures to make civilian Yamataian bodies able to better control military hardware that way.
It'd hardly be worth the bother anyhow. Yamatai's culture doesn't support civilians modifying themselves like that. The idea is that if you need to be better suited for the military, along with packing the advantages to operate man-to-machine interfaces (or get ST updates done via it) - then you soul transfer into a neko.
If you're a Yamataian enlisting in the military, then you enlist knowing you'll be limited and you'll have to live with it.
If you're a Geshrin wanting to be in the military... why should the Star Army even bother with you doing such a procedure when you've never even bothered to become a Yamataian?
The only people I'd see being more inclined to this are Nepleslians, because using that augmentation implant would be a very Nepleslian thing to do.