[daniel_gudman]

Well if you really want to push the boat out...

Just tell the players to build a "master swordsman", or a "journeyman mage", or "somebody that would fit in with the cast of Sliders". Without a point total.

Never mind the points, just have everybody model their character concept. Before you even add two numbers together, make sure there's agreement on the "description" of the character that will in turn be modeled by the points.

I mean, isn't "point total" in the end is just an abstraction to allow a "fair" game where every player contributes equally...?

If you're worried about characters building really unbalanced characters, then....

For example, in a world where inescapable armor-ignoring super-long-range big-damage Innate Attacks exist, isn't MAD between the possessors of those abilities obvious? Because, if you use it even once injudiciously, sooner-rather-than-later, you'll be struck down by other users preemptively? It's practically necessary that you take a high-point secret ("Lethal Threat to Anybody, including other Lethal Threats to Anybody") or a high-point enemy ("World Powers: Watcher"); on a failed check the player will get splatted by an equally-empowered NPC who decided the character was, torecall the words of Uncle Ben, not exercising great responsibility over their great power.

Therefore, it's an ability that might be cheap in points, but must be exercised with only the most serious caution, because misuse will, logically, call down swift and terrible retribution from other ability users.