*sigh* the rules make is clear that the Hacking Device makes you a Hacker. “Operatives equipped with a Hacking Device are called simply Hackers.” If it were otherwise then Scavengers wouldn't become Hackers and Hackers who are UNC would cease to be Hackers as Automatic Skills have no effect when the owning trooper is Unc. The way it's written in Army is congruent with this interpretation: the Alg Hacker is a Hacker because they have a Hacking Device, not because it says 'Hacker'. ALGUACIL Hacker (Hacking Device) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 18) Otherwise one would be forced to conclude that Zoe is not a Hacker. ZOE (Hacking Device. UPGRADE: Stop!) Combi Rifle, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 28) Furthermore, 'having no effect' is more strict than 'cannnot be used'. Alice being able to target Bob is an effect of Bob having Comms Equipment (which is why it's arguable that you can't target Bob when he is UNC)*, Alice is not using Bob's Comms Equipment to target Bob. It's a simple test: Does Bob have Comms Equipment? Yes. Is Alice using Disabled Comms Equipment to achieve this? No. Alice is using her own Hacking Device which is not Disabled. * Note, I find Mahtamori's argument about Burning ODD on an UNC Myrm persuasive. Mostly because this means that Targetting isn't contingent on the state of the target just what traits the target possesses.
