I think it is also that there is a brain left behind in a jump clone that can be re-inhabited. If a destructive burn turned the brain to slurry, you wouldn't be able to jump back into that clone, on would think.
Actually, I think this is an assumption, one that I dont think the text supports. Its not explicit that we jump back into the same
clone, just that we jump back into the same
location.
Clone bodies, for capsuleers, are quite disposable. They're also quite recyclable, being made from just about any bio-mass around. (preferably human cadavers, but I assume its like making sausage, we dont want to know what goes on).
So, heres my assumption regarding clone jump, that, given everything we've read, scanning a brain kills the brain. So, heres my argument on how clone jumping works, followed by some textual backing for it.
If you want to clone jump, you hook yourself up to the neural scanners, and, basaed on what we hear about, the neural scan kills that clone's brain during the scanning and subsequent jump. Your consciousness, now on the other side of the cluster in a fresh clone, go on your merry way.
Now, back in your old clone, they begin to reprocess your dead clone. Within 24 hrs, they recreate a new clone from biomass, and you're free to jump back into it.
Keep in mind, that to jump clone, you need a high standing with a corporation, you need facilities. And what are those facilities called? In a supercap ship, they're called Clone Vat Bays.
Not "Clone Storage", Clone
Vats. A vat isnt someplace you keep a clone in storage. It is a place to turn clone biomass into new clones.
The only handwaving in this explanation is that your implants are removed from the dead clone, and placed into the pre-living clone, which isn't unreasonable given that you need to have access to jump clone medical facilities of a station or supercap to make a clone jump.
Now, when you jump back to your old location, you're jumping back into a new clone, one with a new brain.
The Chronicles actually indirectly supports this explanation. If you read One Man Too Many, it is about an insanely rich head of a megacorp clone jumping back home. Here is one of the first lines.
"Pier Ancru slowly came to, relishing in the feeling of energy returning to his previously limp body. He flexed a few of his muscles, they felt familiar,
yet he knew this was the first time they were under his direct control. "
Emphasis mine. Basically, the main character is clone jumping back home, but he's jumping back into a new clone, one hes never directly controlled before. And if he's jumping back to his home, why isn't he jumping back into his prior clone? The straight line answer is that its brain is fried, because neural scan seems to always kill the brain.
Given the PF, I think its safe to assume that brain scanning always does kill the brain.
I think if there is a "soft clone" alternative, given PF, its based off of uploading ones thoughts into a computer, and then downloading it into a clone. Though, that seems to be extremely rare and noteworthy.