The only category of cyberware where obvious is a official keyword I could find is cyberlimbs.
So if you accept that limitation greyware can only be used for obvious cyberlimbs or 'ware with a wireless bonus (which gets removed).
And, if you interpret the RAW as both conditions having to apply, you can`t even take it for them, since Cyberlimbs don`t have a wireless bonus per default
If (what I previously assumed) the point of greyware was to encourage players to take obvious "retro-style" Cyberware instead of non-obvious (internal or covert) Chrome, restricting it to cyber that is obvious
per se totally defeats the purpose. In fact, it would have made more sense restrict it to cyber that is usually
not obvious, like Wireless Reflexes or Cybereyes. The fluff in Chrome Flesh mentioned a new augmentation trend of "Exoware" that goes in the same direction. I actually liked this idea so much that I already made some houserules to reward overly-obvious Chrome, so maybe I am a bit biased in my initial interpretation of the greyware crunch.
However, if it is - by the fabled will of the
original writer -
really supposed to be RAI that Greyware can only be chosen for obvious Cyberware, then this means that greyware is not really rewarding players for making their chrome obvious, but for losing wireless bonuses. Which would be less of a cool idea IMO, but hell, why not? Maybe the "Exoware" trend is further elaborated on in a second augmentation supplement instead?
And then there is the question on how to interpret the AND/OR relation between both conditions and the fact that Greyware is, in fact, more expensive than Alphaware and not cheaper as advertised in the fluff. Which might be explained by assuming that the
original writer - missed the fact that Alphaware in SR5 has a cost modifier of 1,2 and not 2,0 like in SR4.
Let`s face it: Greyware is yet another typical SR5 crunchbomb where the general idea may (or may not) have been really good, but the RAW fails to reflect it. This is what
should be done now, instead of pointlessly arguing around in the forum or dashing of ill-considered clarification attempts that further drives the whole thing in the ground:
- Determine what the actual "point" of greyware is supposed to be.
- Determine the Interpretation of the RAW fits that vision in the best possible way. F.i., if greyware is mainly supposed to reward making cyberware obvious, restricting it to cyber that already is obvious is - obviously - not the right way to go. There is no shame in backpedaling here
- Pass it on to errata.
To take the edge off: I`d love to more of these "excentric" cyberware grades in the future! What about ware that, instead of not offering wireless bonuses, treats every bonus as a wireless bonus (and offers none when jammed)? Or plagiarized ware, which is cheaper, but always illegal because it breaks copyright law? Or rules for renting/leasing ware that getś tracked by the original owner and taken away if you fail to pay up (Repo Men, anyone?
)...