I can vaguely recall reading that in certain situations *choice would work correctly while *fake_choice would throw an error, though I’ve never run into those situations myself and can’t remember the details I read.
I do know one use of *choice where *fake_choice can’t stand in — putting multiple semi-independent choices on a single page, so the player can select all of them at once. For example, choosing your MC’s hair color, hair length, and hair style. I believe @Fiogan is using one in The Beastie Watch to set the MC’s philosophy and outlook on life. The code itself is a little complicated, and ends up looking something like this:
*choice color shape
#red
#square
*goto next
#circle
*goto next
#blue
#square
*goto next
#circle
*goto next
When run, this will appear to produce two separate choices. Before the first, it will say *"Select a (first word following choice, “color” in this example)," then it will display a choice between red and blue. Before the second, it will say *"Select a (second word following choice, in this case “shape”)," then it will display a choice between square and circle.
There are a lot of tricks to making it function — those words that follow *choice are mandatory, and you can only use one word per tier of choices. Every deeper tier of #options must be completely and exactly copied under each higher-tier #option. Variables you *set must only be set under the final tier of #options, right above your *goto commands. There are probably some other tricks I’m forgetting at the moment.
It gets messy. It gets messy frighteningly quickly.
I suspect it’s close to the exact opposite of clean coding.
As an example, several months ago I wrote, purely for practice, a three-tier *choice for choosing a character’s hair length, color, and texture all on the same page. It worked! And from a play perspective was beautifully simple. And it could only be done with *choice, not *fake_choice.
But with six hair lengths (bald, very short, etc,) five colors (blonde, red, etc,) four textures (straight, wavy, etc,) and a variable for each thing to be chosen, the whole abomination ended up as nearly 640 lines of code.
If you really want to see that mess I wrote to style an MC's hair, it looks like this...
*choice length color texture
#bald
#blonde
#straight
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#red
#straight
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#auburn
#straight
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#brown
#straight
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#black
#straight
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "bald"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#very short
#blonde
#straight
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*goto eyes
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
#curly
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#red
#straight
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#auburn
#straight
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#brown
#straight
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#black
#straight
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "very short"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#short
#blonde
#straight
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#red
#straight
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#auburn
#straight
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#brown
#straight
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#black
#straight
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "short"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#medium
#blonde
#straight
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#red
#straight
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#auburn
#straight
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#brown
#straight
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#black
#straight
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "medium"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#long
#blonde
#straight
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#red
#straight
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#auburn
#straight
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#brown
#straight
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#black
#straight
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "long"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#very long
#blonde
#straight
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "blonde"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#red
#straight
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "red"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#auburn
#straight
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "auburn"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#brown
#straight
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "brown"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
#black
#straight
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "straight"
*goto eyes
#wavy
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "wavy"
*goto eyes
#curly
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "curly"
*goto eyes
#kinky
*set hair_length "very long"
*set hair_color "black"
*set hair_texture "kinky"
*goto eyes
Edit on 04 Dec. 2016:
I should have included a screenshot of how that hair-selection code looks when implemented. Omitting that was a mistake.
Also, probably I should have linked to The Beastie Watch’s discussion topic, rather than directly to the game itself. That should be corrected as well now.