I think if you channelled Heavy Metal magazine with it's weird environs, buxom hunnies and wacked-out, alien weirdness, rather than the typical Rift fanboy cliche', you could have a truly epic, non-ridiculous game.
Heavy Metal Magazine Just look at some of these covers...plenty of killer Rift ideas!
I've only played Rifts once, I do own the main book, but have yet to play or run it. But if I did...it'd be something right out of a Heavy Metal mag...complete with soundtrack...(Black Sabbath:Mob Rules!! Helll anything RJD)
The idea of running a Glitter Boy never occured to me. Seems kinda boring, totally lacking in any interesting roleplay potential (unless blowing the crap out of stuff is your version of roleplay).
Something more exotic or esoteric would suit my tastes more...something psi, mutant or maybe wizardly on the run and/or seeking knowledge.
Or for that matter maybe a Robocop-ish, haunted borg with the soul of a man, theme.
I think it's up to the players...Rifts doesn't have to always devolve into a mega-damage, death orgy. Rifts can have a soul....just look past the cliche'.