Not Always Quite Human
Shapeshifters look mostly human—normally. Through
some quirk of magic or paragenetics, some shapeshifters
can transform into a form that more closely resembles another
metatype, or even metavariants. This is represented
by changing their Shift (Human) power to another, as
appropriate—Shift (Elf), Shift (Oni), etc.—and spending an
additional number of BP equal to the typical cost for that
race –10 BP. A shapeshifter with a different metatype gains
their standard metatype abilities (see Metatype Attribute
Table, p. 72, SR4) when in that form.

This came up in DamienKnight's Upgraded Character Generator Thread:

What the book says:

The way I read this is that you pay the Shapeshifter metatype cost plus the standard cost of whatever non-human metatype you want, then subtract 10 BP (so a Fox Shifter with Shift (Ork) would be 60 BP total). What you get for the extra BP cost is that metatype's abilities when not in animal form. You do not get any attribute bumps, but retain the Shapeshifter's attributes in both forms.

The way DK has it in his awesome character generator (as of version v) is you pay the full shifter+metatype cost and gain extra abilities including attribute bumps (up and down) as appropriate for the metatype.

So, the question is, which is it? Obviously a GM can rule whatever he and his group like for their own house game.

I had not noticed the -10 BP. That does make sense that you would not get attribute bonuses (or penalties) if you are shaving 10 BP off the cost.

I also see on the Matatype Attribute Table it clearly labels the 'Metatype Abilities' as their non-attribute advantages.

A Bear Troll is only 110 BP, and for it they'd get (under the combined stats law) 11 body and 11 strength for free.
Each of which is individually worth 100 BP.

I want to make a Troll Bear Shapeshifter now... Just to see what my group does against a Troll with those stats that thinks like a bear and regenerates from their gunshots and katana slices.

"Do we have a Plan C?" "Hit it with the truck?"

"Do we have a Plan C?" "Hit it with the truck?"

The way I read this is that you pay the Shapeshifter metatype cost plus the standard cost of whatever non-human metatype you want, then subtract 10 BP (so a Fox Shifter with Shift (Ork) would be 60 BP total). What you get for the extra BP cost is that metatype's abilities when not in animal form. You do not get any attribute bumps, but retain the Shapeshifter's attributes in both forms.

The way DK has it in his awesome character generator (as of version v) is you pay the full shifter+metatype cost and gain extra abilities including attribute bumps (up and down) as appropriate for the metatype.

So, the question is, which is it? Obviously a GM can rule whatever he and his group like for their own house game.

If you are using the Not Always Quite Human Optional Rule (p.87, RC), does that change the shapeshifter's attributes?

No, unless the metavariant possesses the Metagenetic Improvement Quality. Shapeshifter characters under the Not Always Quite Human Optional Rule gain the Metatype Abilities (p.81, SR4A), including any Metagenetic Qualities if they choose a metavariant (pp.71-72, Ars) when shifted into that form.

Cecilia wishes to make a bear shapeshifter character and use the Not Always Quite Human option so that his other form is that of a troll. The additional cost of this option is 40 BP (troll metatype cost) - 10 BP, for a total of 30 BP. On her character sheet, Cecilia writes down the Shift(Troll) Critter Power. In bear form, Cecilia's character has the bear shapeshifter's normal shifter abilities (+1 Reach, +1 natural armor, Enhanced Sense (Smell)); in troll form her character adds a troll's metatype abilities (for a total of +2 Reach, +1 natural armor, Enhanced Senses (Smell, Thermographic Vision).

You have already read this thread's discussion all about this right?

I thought that addressed it quite thoroughly.