I tentatively like what I see about limits. I don't see it as fodder for "Shadowrun is ruined forever!" Its a rule easily ignored from what we see with the previews, and for me it adds a certain flavor to the verisimilitude. (As much as can be said in a system with MAGIC!) When it comes to weapon/tool limits, I do see the problem of a the best marksman in the world using a crap gun and being limited by the gun more than he should. On the other hand, it's also a common enough trope that a master of his craft can still do well even with crap and shine with the right tools. (The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon stick fight comes to mind.) As long as it's balanced well and there are means around it when it becomes necessary, I don't see it as much of an issue.
Character limits I am a bit more concerned about. The basics of the formula don't sit right with me, considering everything it applies to. But again, I guess we'll see. And I must have missed it, but I didn't see how personal limits interact with the tool using limits. IE: Do you take worst of your personal physical limits or the gun's limit with shooting someone? Or do you take the better?
In regards to the "offending the hardcore customer", I consider myself casual hardcore. I tend not to pick apart my mechanics unless glaring items crop up (adepts and bioware come to mind), but I tend to buy lots of SR books. I started with SR2, picked up SR3 & SR4 when they came out, and I'll pick up SR5 when it releases. More depending on how much I like it. The 3.x to 4e D&D didn't bother me much, since I liked the jump. Though I can see why others didn't. The advertising was borderline offensive as it mocked people who liked the older style of play. Next is failing just as bad, because despite the promised inclusion, the line dev basically said, "Everyone except the 4e crowd."
Yes, in both cases, winning over the old crowd is good. Keeping the current fans is also good. Attracting new fans is great. (New blood means new creative viewpoints that you may not have had before.) Striking a good balance between change, keeping/attracting old fans, and gaining new ones is the best option. Unlike Next, SR5 seems to be attempting to cleave to that balance. I think it's too soon to be saying, "ruined forever" and "crap mechanics" when we don't even have a full picture. It's easy to see part of a picture an get a false impression of the overall scene. Heck, I've see innocent pictures that when cropped, look X rated. See the full picture and it becomes G rated.
My current stance on all of it: Wait and see how it shakes out in play and how the line develops. Worst case scenario, I wasted $35 due to Amazon's pre-order guarantee and a couple hours with friends. Hanging out with my friends trying something new? Oh, the horror.
I am not sure which forum thread I picked this up from, but I think it applies:
"We'll see. Also the boy and the zen master." (No, I haven't seen the movie it's taken from.)
That all said, I do appreciate folks' dissection of the rules. It gives me additional stuff to keep an eye on when I do try it in play. So for that, I thank you.
-Temperance