I feel like this card is half of a combo that doesn't exist yet.

Obviously, it has applications in damage mitigation and safety (an overarching theme of the Borealis Cycle). You can offset the lasting downsides of Core Damage, making it harder for Thule to set up a kill with just a single End of the Line. And, with just a pinch of Charge support and a healthy dose of card draw you can keep yourself safe from even double End of the Line MAD combos.

However, this card has drawbacks, namely the self-damaging effect and reliance on Charge synergy to make the most of it. Unlike Stoneship Chart Room or No Free Lunch which have no drawbacks and can be cashed in at minimum for a little bit of credits or card draw.

Rather, this card needs something to synergize with it, something to offer you more value than just hand size for the sake of not flatlining. Compare how Anarch decks will play Steelskin Scarring regardless of whether they are expecting damage or not because of its inherent synergy with all of their trash cards.

Hippocampic Mechanocytes feels like it needs something akin to this, something like Game Day (which has rotated) or a runner version of Your Digital Life to give you some payoff for having a large hand-size or large number of cards in hand, to warrant playing this card outside of a hard-core (hehe, get it) damage tech.

If you need more handsize and you already have a console, this is slightly better than T400 Memory Diamond. While it is free and give you +2 handsize, it incur a slight tempo loss with the meat damage. This combo well with Captain Padma Isbister: Intrepid Explorer because you can then charge this card to get a bigger hand size.

If you do not have a console and you are not Shaper, then Marrow is a much better use of your influence. The added effect and added MU makes up for the 2 cost.

Increased hand size mainly add protection against effect like End of the Line, BOOM! or to counter Jinteki: Personal Evolution. So it is good if you do not have influence for other form of protection (No Free Lunch, Steelskin Scarring, etc.) Also, additionnal hand size means nothing if you have difficulty drawing cards to fill you hand. Unlike Obelus, your hand does not easily replenish. So make sure to have ways to draw your deck (VRcation, Diesel, Dr. Nuka Vrolyck, etc.).

This cybernetic becomes pretty good for Shapers planning to use Tremolo. Otherwise, it is more of a meta read : if the corp often rely on killing the runner to win, this is a must have, otherwise it is a mild protection. Considering the cost, it is always good to have one copy, as it will help in most case, if only to have more options (cards) in hand to control the board.

The art and quote seems to indicate that this cybernetic is less invasive by making use of nanobots. It is well reflected by the name and effect of the card. Well designed card in every aspect.