Well, having completed the rest of the DLCs, and having failed DM once, I am trying it again at the end. The problem is that this time the ghost people are scaled way up and the firearms are not. As a result, even with my miserly obsessing looting, I'm marginal on ammo for all weapons as well as chips. I'm not a great hand to hand fighter in this game unfortunately.

Additionally I'm dealing with a new bug. I got the hand loading perk thinking it might maximize my DM guns but it hasn't because I keep having the situation where the ammo (even the regular stuff) won't load in the gun. The only option is to drop the ammo, pick it up, get completely out of the game and come back in. It makes a bad situation worse.

On the positive side, the GRX implant does help with the speakers. If I live to get back into the vault I might just be able to get around that one terminal.

I just can't help thinking though that this is just more self-mutilation rather than a game. Might be time to go back to Skyrim. DM is so unfun in so many ways -- the mist, the speakers, the inability to use my favored weapons, the confusing pathways, etc. that it seems like the worst parts of Fallout and Fallout NV all combined into a single scenario. Tell me where I'm wrong here. Tell me I should actually finish this nightmare.

Well, Chris Avellone wrote some cool characters.

Probably some of the best characters in the entire franchise.

Okay you've tried twice and it's too hard for you just turn the difficulty down to Very Easy and roll through it.

It's worth experiencing.

Embrace it. This DLC wants to be a pain in the ass, it wants to be your nightmare. So if you want to enjoy it, embrace it. You play Dead Money now, rather than New Vegas.

I'd recommend hardcoe mode for maximum atmosphere. If you can't kill Ghost People, flee. Flee right to the next building and preserve. Use anything you can find. Gas bombs work well, use them when you get them, cus they are heavy. Don't lose too much health, until you have a considerable amount of chips. Enjoy the little moments of rest, read terminals, let the history of this enchanted nightmare fairy-tale castle svck you in, but fear it for never spitting you out again. Open your eyes. Radios can be destroyed by grenades. Use the Auto Docs. Don't hesitate, but know there's much to find if you explore. Dog/God, Christine Royce, Dean Domino and Father Elijah are the only other (more or less) sane beings stuck with you inside hell. They are exceptionally well written characters and you'll eventually find yourself thankful for their company (except Elijah of course). And once you reach the villa, relax..

Dead Money is imo the best DLC of New Vegas, but if it fails to make you enjoy it, kill it off your hard disk. But remember the feeling it gave you, despite stressing you out. If you want that feeling again, come back to the sierra madre - a magnificient treasure awaits you.