I think that my players, after two gaming sessions, have now fully understood the point of Shadowrun, and it could be summed up in one simple statement. Here is a transcript of the discussion leading up to the statement:
GM: "North America's governments have become a shadow of their former glory, the big businesses made them powers in name only. Less than 1% of the population controls over 99% of the wealth, and the gap between the rich and poor has all but eliminated the middle class. Only those with a lack of scruples and a mind-set that only sees numbers ever hope to reach the top of the corporate ladder. Yet even amongst the bottom rungs of society, all is not lost; Shadowrunners, hired mercenaries, owing allegiance to no one but each other, forge their own destiny, planning to make it big or die trying."
Player 1: "So who do we work for?"
Player 2: "Whoever we damn well please!"
The last comment summed up the entirety of Shadowrun in one simple statement. Even in a dystopian future, freedom and hope still reigns.