I'm a novice at cyberpunk, just reading Neuromancer now for the first time actually. But my sense is that the human and real is valued even more in these worlds where so much virtual reality and fake human-ness is present.
Well, I was being facetious, as you might have guessed from my tone. Since you responded seriously, though, I guess I'll think. Ish.
You raise an interesting point and one that is central to the cyberpunk theme: the value of humanity. Perceived and actual.
In Neuromancer, as you're probably noticing, society is very much results-oriented, even more than today. The First World has become a Third World in terms of human costs. Cowboy is offered a chance at functionality and he leaps at it. His work defines him. If it works, it is good. Count Zero, with its rebuilt corporate mercenary, re-emphasizes this theme.
The protagonist in these stories must then try to find something of himself beyond the machine, in a world where what you do defines what you are. This is the other theme.
This is very much present in Cyberpunk 2020. It applies to sex as much as anything else. If it can be done better by a machine or a nanopackage or a bioware suite, then absolutely, spend the money and do it. The most popular musicians and actors display their wares proudly, a signature part of their style. The Luddite movement, an attempt to connect humans with their pre-machine heritage, is exemplified by the violent vigilante cult, the Inquisitors. In Night City, they are portrayed as antagonists.
So the Machine is better than Meat, in popular culture and personal affairs. This includes sex - augmented sex and sex-gender choices are a short doctor's visit away in 2020.
Until you get to Technoshock and Cyberpsychosis. Unlike much of the Cyberpunk genre - and really most science fiction, period - Cyberpunk 2020 uses a nasty little concept to directly underline and contradict the "Metal is better than Meat" philosophy found throughout the world setting.
In 2020, you are free to flip around on cosmetic cyber as much as you want, contacts, fingernails, what have you. But as soon as you put anything in you that messes with your "human-ness", as defined by the game, you risk insanity. Not only that, but this mental breakdown caused by the human inability to adjust to the Machine, can be brought on by more than implants. Drugs, pre-existing empathy/connection issues, you name it.
So although the human and real is not, on the surface, in the culture, valued more than the Machine, each individual must carefully balance their social and professional needs against their tolerance for "improvement" .
As the 2020 corebook says, "Walk softly. Guard your mind."
