Do you still pay half essence for the bioware or cyberware that has the lesser essence total? Looking at Archetypes was useless Decker's essence didn't add up either way of doing it.

Nope. You're suppose to pay full for both with essence.

i think though the essence costs for bioware is lower than previously. could be wrong though i havent compared and its been a long time since i opened sr4.

nope - no half-essence rule anymore.