Unfortunately yes; the RAW position is that you need a separate license for each type of Restricted item despite what the other answers suggest. This includes melee weapons (such as the Katana and Shock Gloves).
Core Rulebook, page 419
A restricted item can be purchased, owned, and transported only under special circumstances. You are allowed to purchase and own a gun with the requisite firearms permit, and you can carry it with you with a special concealed carry permit.
Core Rulebook, page 443
Each type of item/activity permission requires a separate license. Things that require licenses include hunting (bow and rifle), possession of a firearm, concealed carry of a firearm (separate license), spellcasting, and any Restricted gear or augmentations, etc.
Note that the second citation clearly indicates that the licenses for Restricted gear are separate from both your Concealed-Carry license AND your Firearm Possession license.
Also, this is a somewhat relevant point regarding jurisdiction. The above ruling, while explicitly spelled out in the book, might only apply to Seattle and/or UCAS:
Core Rulebook, page 419
The legality restrictions in the book use the basic Seattle, UCAS, guideline as their point of reference. Gamemasters should feel free to adjust legality and availability of certain items in other regions of the world as they see fit, and future Shadowrun products may contain alternate availability and legality ratings for different jurisdictions around the Sixth World.
There are several questions here, and so several answers. For the sake of this, we'll define "android" as "robot made to look like a metahuman". Cyborgs and cyberzombies are a discussion for another day.
Are there androids?
Yup.
The Mitsuhama Akiyama is "a lightweight humanoid frame designed to appear as a small child". (Arsenal p120)
The Mitsuhama Otomo is "custom built with a unique appearance and designed to replicate the look of a specific metatype and sex". (Arsenal p121)
The Renraku Manservant is "a humanoid walker drone made to look slightly smaller than the average human and showing a humble posture". (Arsenal p121)
The Mitsuhama Tomino's description mentions that "while still humanoid, a Tomino cannot pass for metahuman. They are much bulkier than even a troll in full military grade armor". (Arsenal p122)
Are there ways to put AIs in androids?
Yup.
An AI can reside in any kind of node. Drones are nodes. Androids are drones. It is mentioned explicitly in Runner's Companion (p89):
Every [AI] has its own home node. This home could be a nexus, or a
commlink, or a vending machine, or even a drone (which would allow it
to interact more effectively with the physical world).
The only limitation is that an AI's Response and Signal are the same as the Response and Signal of the node it is located in at the time. So an android with poor Response/Signal would kind of limit an AI a bit.
Has it been done before?
Nope.
...or rather, I don't think so.
It is always difficult to say with any certitude that something has never been done before, but I don't remember seeing any mention of it. For some reason, humanoid drones seems to be kind of a taboo not only in the Shadowrun universe, but also in the Shadowrun editorial line.
There has been cyborgs, cyberzombies, paraplegic riggers using bipedal drones, but as far as I know, no AI using bipedal drones yet.
Best Answer
As a GM and a player, there are a few reasons I see as to why:
Risk vs. Reward
For the longest time most Deckers would do their job from a place of safety. There wasn't too much risk in their job: sure, they might get a little brain fry, but that's only if they're going after the really big or shady hosts. In many cases the worst the decker would have to deal with is repairing or buying a new deck. Street Sams can spend as much money on their chrome, but they also risk catching a lucky bullet. Magicians get to wiggle their fingers, but...are more likely to catch the lucky bullet once the others figure out who's flinging the mojo.
Deckers, though, can hide in a safe place and take out every single wireless item the opposition has. They can hack into hosts and make life hell for the rent-a-cops in the Arcology they're running in. Ultimately, Deckers tend to be the least likely to end up with bullet wounds.
Easy Nuyen
A good Decker doesn't often go long without having an opportunity to score some of that sweet cred. Any good team wants them around to make sure they get the most use of their chrome and gadgets without having Mr. Corporate Spider taking them down. Additionally, if that Decker is poking in a host, they're likely able to steal some paydata to help boost the team's profit...or their own.
Decker vs. Technomancer
A Technomancer is always hot simmed. A Technomancer has a higher chance of dying from working in the Matrix. If you brick a Technomancer...well, let's just say you don't want to use them as a paperweight for too long. Hard to get rid of the smell. Deckers can deal with some drek, too, but in many cases have ways to mitigate having anything but that weird smell after a bank run went a little south. Technomancers have to have good attributes, since they are their decks; a Decker just has to know how to use a deck.
Ultimately, it's all they need
Sure, 123k might seem a lot. But all you need after that are some trodes and you're ready to go. Ready to go for quite a long time. No need to maintain an arsenal, keep up your armor, get your limbs replaced, or be born with the "special" stuff. All you need is the desire to code and the nuyen (or resources) to buy or cobble together a thing someone might call a deck. Sure, you're going to want to upgrade to take down those heavier hosts, but after you get that deck all the scratch you make only needs to go to keeping you fed and sheltered.
Aside: I can't find RAW for making a deck, but it's a thing that has been discussed with me by others. Data Trails does have a section for modding a deck, though, which you could use as a GM if you wanted them to be able to make one.
Cheaper Decks/Reconfiguring
Data Trails offers a cyberdeck for as little as 21k if the Erika is too high for you, and some specialty decks that are cheaper than their peers but can't be reconfigured like them.
Also, while doing the research for the question in the comments, I came across another point: A Decker can reconfigure their strengths and weaknesses on the fly with the standard decks. Technomancers are left with what they have, but a hot Decker can shift their deck around as needed.