Plated
Pros
Normal length.
Can use back packs.
Stronger.
Less ongoing discomfort.
Quicker healing.
That bit of floating bone removed or put in place.
Cons
Will cost you upward of $1500 to get plate put in.
Same if removed at a later date.
Still local discomfort.
Loss of sensation around area(possibly come back).
Possibly higher risk of re-breaking at either end of plate.
Another 3 months off if you decide to get plate removed.
Risk they or you will still stuff it up.
Non plated
Pros
No surgery and it's associated risks.
No need to get plate removed, and or have a mess if you re-broke it with plate and screws in.
Cons
Short shoulder.
Mega pain for backpack usage.
Looks like it'll resnap hella easy.
Ugly bump.
Sensitive bump.
That's fricken ugly dude, I'd get it plated ASAP myself.
I'll PM you the doc who did a great job on mine if you can get to canberra for day surgery.
Back n the day, apparently they would strap and brace collar bones so they set straighter. Not sure why this concept died out, but you could look into something along those lines.
Update on mine.
Did my first day digging on a track yesterday. Few suspicious pains strains and creaks, but otherwise fine. Plate is sensitive with stuff running over it(skin, tendons, whatever's in there)but seems to be getting better. Sensitive if pushed on or bumped.
Numb to touch but you don't notice it or the weird feeling when getting in the shower etc.
Glad I got it done. Been riding All MTN type stuff for about a month now(op was April 12th). Been skiing for about 6 days.
Not crashed on it yet, and still very scared as I don't think I'm meant to be doing anything extreme for another week or so.
All in all, glad I got it plated. Shoulder blade seemed to heal really fast. I'm pretty sure I'd be way bent and still healing if I'd not got the operation.