Yeah that was the result of their version of the RPGA.Probably the thing I liked least... about Shadowrun or any other cyberpunk game I've played. It seemed to just lead to a continuing cycle of 'gear up - run mission - get paid - gear up - run mission... etc.' Throw in the occasional double-cross/complication, but that's pretty much all I've seen happen in cyberpunk games.
I wanted more character driven stories, less gun/gear porn, more stuff about conspiracies and taking down the oppressive system... or being nomads out on the roads... existing as a 'blank' outside the grid.
Shadowrun is the cautionary tale of what happens when a company designs only for their SMLC(RPGA).