SR4 Pros and Cons: A Non-Player's Request Options

[Aubri]

To start with, I'm not a SR player. I cut my teeth on D&D and I'm reasonably familiar with White Wolf's system. I picked up an old copy of SR3 and read through it because I like the setting and I was curious about the system. I generated a sample character to see how it all works. To my shame, I didn't even bother to read the Magic chapter--I felt it was more important to get a grip on the game before adding the extra complexity of magic. I'm given to understand this may have been a wise choice, but whatever.

So. I've heard a lot about what's bad in SR4. I tend to agree that the damage system, dice pools, and the skill system gave SR a lot of its distinctiveness and an interesting take of simulating reality. That said, it was (and, I assume, still is) a very crunchy system. This is not something I mind per se, but... well, you know what I mean. Three or four dice rolls per attack? Yeesh... if nothing else, d20 has the advantage of simplicity in that arena.
But I digress! What I'd really like to know is... should I pick up SR4, or stick with SR3? Keep in mind that I'm not fanatically attached to anything about SR3; I'm asking on a purely qualitative basis. "It's always been that way" doesn't fly for me.

I suppose what I'm really looking for is peoples' complete reactions to the changes. What do you think is particularly good, what's particularly bad, and in total does it represent a positive or negative step?

For example, to show the kind of questions I'd like to see addressed, I understand that the condition monitor has changed and people no longer have a fixed 10-step damage track. Besides nostalgic complaints, how does this affect the game? Does it create any balance issues? Is it "more fun" or "less fun"--is it a "good thing"?

(Aethetic arguments are fine, mind--it's fine to say the removal of counterattacks in melee combat does make it more "bland" and, well, D&D-like. I rather liked the idea that a powerful combatant can overpower a weaker one, and it makes up for the seeming weakness and short range of melee weapons. OTOH, a good aesthetic decision was the AR system; I feel that anything that makes a decker--sorry, hacker--more involved in the real world is a good thing.)

I realize this all may be asking a lot, but I've yet to see a board where people are loathe to rant. I only request that venom and vitriol be backed up by fact! That reminds me--I'd prefer not to get into any running debates. If you disagree with someone else's points, just write your own essay and touch on the same point. Thanks!