This can cause issues or can be used as an exploit. Be warned:
When you save a bot in the create-a-bot, no only does the appearances are saved, so are the traits, now it wouldn't appear they do, because the traits are NOT listed in the trait chip lists. and you cannot see the trait chips being changed when you replace your current bot with a bot that were saved in the bin previously.
However, the actual functionality of each trait chips (with all its power and AI impacts) are actually stored as a hidden trait, these hidden traits are what govern how the bot would act or what power/skills they have. the trait "chips" that you can see from the list are just for display.
If all this sound confusing to you, let me make an example:
Bot A has solar powered, holo projector, and cleaner chips, you customize Bot A, then saved a copy of it in Create-a-Bot.
Later on, you have Bot B, that has office drone, efficient, and also purchased Maintenance Master LTR.
You went to customize B, and decided to use Bot A's appearance, so you apply what appeared to be Bot A on Bot B.
Now Bot B, looks exactly like A, you may modify the appearance a bit then hit Ok.
You look at Bot B, the 3 chips are still there, you have office drone, efficient, and ... wait a minute! the Maintenance Master LTR is gone! Yes, because Bot B was basically replaced with A, except for the skills.
Even though Bot B still seem to have the efficient chip, if you look at the career tab, you will notice you no longer have the "Robotic Efficiency" as the performance factor, but instead it is replaced with the normal performance factor as if does not have efficient chip. (Somehow you still have the job, im guessing the office drone chip is being treated a little differently, but if you use mods like MC to look at the list, the office drone hidden trait is gone).
Now you take Bot B out for a spin, and you will soon notice Bot B start to recharge under sun light as if he has solar powered chip. and He also started to autonomously cleaning dishes because he gained the cleaner chip trait.
Not only that, if you click on Bot B, you also will find that he can now project holograms even though he does not have the chip!
You can see this can potentially be exploited but also, at the same time, it could cause a lot of pain if you are not careful. In particular, you could lose the LTR like I did there, which is hard to fix if you do not use mods.
Trait chips are easier to fix, you just need to equip the chips for the hidden traits they acquired then remove them will clear the traits.
