Sorry for the numerous questions, but I have one more.

**** This will contains story spoilers ****

You can enter the recreation deck before entering Operations. What happens if you solve the Recreation deck transmission issues before rediscovering SHODAN? Will you get the same emails from SHODAN or will anything change?

nothing, you actually are free to solve the two decks in any order desired.

No, this is only true after you discover SHODAN.

My question was what would happen if you do Rec before you enter Operations at all (and before you discover that SHODAN exists). Will it be Polito who guides you through Rec.

Fortunately I managed to find an old save. The answer is quite simply you can't. The very first door would be locked and Polito would ask you to go see her first.