A few rules questions, and possibly some advice for a novice GM Options

[m-logik]

I'll be beginning a sr4a campaign in the near future and I was hoping for clarification on a few rules. Help me, dumpshock rules gurus.

1. (a) The binding/registering rules allow a maximum = CHA. If a character bumps their CHA up with a drug (let's say novacoke), does that increase this limit?
(b) If so, does the character lose additional bound spirits/registered sprites when the drug's effects end? And in the case of novacoke or red mesc, would the character also lose all but one of them from the hangover penalty?

2. Can drones or inanimate objects benefit from a magician's counterspelling? I don't see any rule that explicitly allows or disallows it, but the corebook refers to 'characters' being protected.

3. Can an astrally projecting magician counter a spell cast on the physical plane?

4. What is a fair object resistance for a drone? The table in the sr4a errata just says 5+, which leaves a lot of room for fiat.

5. The shapechange spell. Does the target or caster choose the animal that's transformed into? If the caster chooses, would the target be considered willing if she says she'll change someone into a wolf, but intends to change them into rabbit? Does cyberware count as equipment for the purpose of determining what gets transformed? If so, is a character with bone-lacing completely screwed if they're stupid enough to let themselves be transformed? Is a non-sapient creature capable of being a willing target? If she transforms a wolf into a chihuahua, disguises it as a simsense starlet's pet, and then stops sustaining the spell while said starlet is carrying it in her purse, wouldn't that be hilarious? You don't have to answer that last one.

6. Our game will be set in Las Vegas, so I let one of my characters take a moderate gambling addiction. I'm leaning toward an addiction test threshold of 2. Does this sound reasonable? What kind of withdrawal penalties would be appropriate here? And what happens if he hits the burnout stage? I've got some ideas, but I'm fishing for better ones.

That's it for specific questions. I've got six players, which is the largest group we've ever had at our table, and two of them are completely new to Shadowrun. The others are familiar with the basics, but have never really thrived in the setting (all veterans of That Other Game, they want to loot everything that isn't actively trying to kill them). I'm worried about slow gameplay, and frequent pauses to go over rules, explain modifiers, etc. Any advice for maintaining a good flow at the table would be appreciated.

Thanks to anyone who takes time to read and rely, and apologies if any of this is directly addressed in the books.