On DLC and the quality of Obsidian's writing: I really love how a lot of the dialog that didn't quite make sense on your first play through (the Mojave Outpost guy rambling about "another courier", etc.) is actually in reference to future DLCs. One thing I didn't like about Fallout 3, is that the DLC seemed more like a diversion than an extension of the story and themes of the core game, a problem Obsidian by all appearances has done wonders to remedy. AMAZING game!
In that same vein I'm displeased they took the time to leave DLC hooks. DLC was inevitable but I'm not exactly psyched about it, along with the fact Ulysses was ripped out. Clearly now he can have a bigger more fleshed out role, but not glad nonetheless. Also, seeing as I found Fallout 2 to not be up to par with the legendary expectations to produce a sequel to one of, if not the best, games created in Fallout 1 Obsidian's effort was pathetic. Now if I grade them in terms of Bethesda who was getting to terms with the franchise and making FO 3 their second fully voiced game and comming to grips with how to make a script not too wordy for the VOs and dealing with their reduction of quality from Morrowind with Howard's objectives to make each game different in story and gameplay even at the cost of having a much simpler story than previous efforts, compared to Obsidian who has some FO 1 minor people, a dash of people who helped on FO 2, and a handful of people working upfront on Van Buren who already knew the franchise and had people like Feargus and Avellone. Well. New Vegas doesn't meet that. But it did expand on Bethesda's effort and reintroduce some Fallout elements missing in the third while giving up a bit more personal story FO 3 had(Barring the lack of player options and say in the MQ) and being the buggiest Fallout ever made both due to the engine and Obsidian's programmers along with the misteps of Beth's own programmers. So yeah New Vegas is good. But no Fallout has measured up to par with the first outting. Bethesda got a free card for 3. If they don't pull out all the stops on 4(And the world doesn't end. And then doesn't end the second time because for all we know Fallout 4 comes out in 2021.) no sympathy from the old Black Isle fans will be left for them.