Seems like a pretty good way to protect Chairman Hiro.

That's what my first thought for the card was as well- this will be great with the Executives!

Ya, I think the "maybe this makes Execs playable" train of thought is where most people's minds turn on reading this card.

Also, assuming archives is well defended, you could theoretically get away with dropping it on a 4/2 (install install advance) and dare the runner to run it. If they do, blow it up, if they don't score it on your turn.

It might also be useful in a old-school Weyland tag and bag on Posted Bounty. You could get it advanced and leave it sitting on self-destruct. If the runner runs it, they can take 3 net damage instead. If they don't, you score it when convenient to give a tag and then drop the hammer.

But other than that, I can't think of many uses for it, and the fact that it is attached to a trace that will typically be weak is kind of lame.

Man, Self-Destruct really loves seeing a Singularity coming: The Runner spends 4 credits and 2 clicks (plus any breaking of ICE) for the privilege of a net-damage bomb.

Man, Self-Destruct really loves seeing a Singularity coming: The Runner spends 4 credits and 2 clicks (plus any breaking of ICE) for the privilege of a net-damage bomb.

Yeah, maybe. But if it doesn't flatline me I'm probably still ok with that trade as far as tempo is concerned. At the very least its going to fall into more or less flat / break even / wash territory as far as the impact to the corp vs the runner.

Say the corp installed 1 ice, Self Destruct, and 1 other card for 3 total clicks. I Singularity, paying 2 clicks and $4. Assuming I break the ice for $2, the corp pays $2 to rez SD, and traces for 3. At that point, the corp is invested 3 clicks + $2 to rez SD + the rez cost of the ice  to my 2 clicks + $6 ... the key variable here obviously being the rez vs break cost of the specific ice involved. If I take the damage, that's essentially -3 click equivalents; if I pay to beat the trace it's about the same impact (depending on link vs availability of draw enablers). So...while there is some fuzziness involved there isn't a clear advantage to the corp in this case.

There might be some ice that is particularly punishing in this scenario, which would shift the balance to the corp's favor, but I'll beg off that exercise as I need to get going if I'm going to get lunch wrapped up in a timely fashion, and also I am not that interested in solving for that particular problem

And, also there is the end state analysis...if my aim in playing Singularity in the first place was to wreck the server, then bottom line at the end of the run the server has been wrecked...so mission accomplished...albeit at a higher than anticipated cost.

No. All cards associated with the server - whether they are installed in it or protecting it - are destroyed. I agree that it's a bit confusing, but if they'd used the word 'and' then Self-Destruct would never meet its trigger condition, because it is not possible for a card to be simultaneously in and protecting a server, so they used the word 'or' to acknowledge that it is referring to two discrete types of cards.

Is it affected by a Rutherford Grid installed in the same server?

Is it affected by a Rutherford Grid installed in the same server?

Inasmuch as Rutherford Grid is one of the cards trashed? Yes

Rutherford Grid's text? I'd say no. It's gone, and even though it may still be "during a run," the card's text has no effect once trashed.

Can the trash effect (the trash can icon), be triggered after the runner has decided to jack out of a run?

Can the trash effect (the trash can icon), be triggered after the runner has decided to jack out of a run?

"Use this ability only during a run on this server," so no.

Once the runner jacks out, the run is over.