Cyberpunk worlds are frequently defined by mega-corporations and a consumer-driven society where flashy, disposable products and experiences are the norm. Substance—like authentic experiences, relationships, or ideals—becomes secondary to constant consumption, stimulation, and image-based value systems.

"style over substance" is a critique of superficiality but also an embrace of aesthetic defiance, where style itself can become a profound statement in a world stripped of other meaningful layers. It questions if style is enough in a world where substance is hard to come by—or if the two have become so interwoven that one cannot exist without the other.