I've dug in and the closest I can get is blocking Steam with my firewall program, starting with FalloutNVLauncher.exe and then waiting interminably until Steam tries to load but can't and the choice to run Steam in offline mode is presented. Then the game starts. I was told in an interview that once I activated with Steam I could opt out of ever needing Steam again.

You will always need to run Steam. But you can switch Steam into "offline mode" so it never tries to go online. For that, go into the "Steam" menu and choose "Go Offline...".

Do what?? Why will we always need Steam? Please explain? I'm already tired of jumping through hoops and have only been online less than an hour.

Steam is a platform. You launch games through it, games that use it. It is that simple.

I use it as an universal launcher of all my games, even those that do not actually use it - it is very simple (option "games - add a non-steam game to my library") and convenient.
See here:
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/7261/steames.jpg

You can switch it into offline mode, so that it does not connect anywhere and does not need internet at all, if you wish (for example when you go somewhere with laptop).

Aha ty, I just found the offline mode. That was what was annoying me the most for some reason I have yet to pinpoint.

Yeah, I got the platform idea right off the bat and the launching thing was pretty obvious. It's probably the fact it's yet another usrname/pw I will have to keep track of out of seemingly way too many as it is. Anyone know any good usrname/pw utilities to store about 100 different combos in?? This is seriously getting old keeping a database just for a home pc.

I had to use M$ login for a couple of games for a long time and really got to the point I don't trust owned platforms or like to make anymore username/pws than the 500000 I already have for other similar needless utilities. This one may prove to be different as far as less BS and more versatility time will tell I suppose. Hopefully it will be less of a headache than M$.

Here's how to set up permanent offline mode with Steam: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-agcb-2555

Steam will still run every time you launch Fallout NV but won't try to connect apparently, and hopefully someone is working diligently right now on a Fallout New Vegas Mod Manager a la FOMM so that even that won't launch anymore unless I want it to. It's also sad that Fallout New Vegas content (BSA files DATA folder, etc.) is buried inside the Program Files/Steam folder.

Steam/steamapps/common/fallout new vegas to be specific. Anyone who's tried modding any Valve game wouldn't find it too much trouble. I would be surprised if a NVOMM can get round Steamworks, but we'll see.

I hate to sound dumb but where is the Steam Menu? On the website or in the startup of Fallout? All I get when I go to start the program is a message from steam that the servers are busy and to connect later. I have not seen a Steam Menu.

Ah, guess you have to wait until the servers are less busy then. But when it do work, start Steam the normal way. Then in the upper left you see a menu called "Steam" and there you can choose "Go Offline...".