Gear Array and combined items

[CookieLord]

How does Gear array interact with items that can be combined?
Ex: the Comm Unit Personal mentions upgrading it to include the functionality of scanners

[Ravien999]

CookieLord wrote:

How does Gear array interact with items that can be combined?

Ex: the Comm Unit Personal mentions upgrading it to include the functionality of scanners

Marked for FAQ because this has much further ramifications. Obviously, if you upgrade the comm unit, it becomes the level of that scanner/computer, as is understandable, which is enough for impact of selection, but the question is "can you"

we've got maze-core items, weapon accessories, and special materials, all of which augment a base item, but become part of the item. I feel as if there's no reason not to allow them as they're still a very specific choice you'd have to pick for your form, still technically a single item (though arguably in the case of accessories). But understanding intent vs RAW would be great

[El Toro]

This question is also relevant to the magic hack for Technomancers of "Fabricate Arms", if you apply a technological augment/boost to a weapon or suit of armour (provided the total bulk is 10 or less) it is technically one item - does this mean an augmented suit of heavy armor can be fabricated in one use by Fabricate Arms?

For example, if I use Vesk Overplate I with the MedObserve Interface, Basic augment - does that make it a single level 6 suit of armor for the purpose of Fabricate Arms?

I feel this is directly relevant to the query above of how do you calculate the level of combined gear and whether it counts as a single items for game purposes?