[dataweaver]

For three points, you get Spark 0, which is roughly analogous to a technological version of magery 0. On top of that, you get what amounts to a Talent for invention (10 points for a +1 to all rolls involving invention), and Gadgeteer for free. The examples of “freebie advantages” that you cite generally require you to spend something like three times as much on the “gateway” advantage, as opposed to spending 10 points on an advantage and getting another 10 point advantage at no further cost.

I think what I'm going to do will be to “flip the script” as it were: incorporate the benefits currently provided by Spark 0 directly into Gadgeteer, then replace Spark 0 with Gadgeteer as a prerequisite for Spark, which will become a straight 10/level.

As for “just role play it”: that argument could be applied to just about any mental disadvantage.