My $0.02 I mostly agree with the pro FO:NV sentiment... but there is a small distinction which should be made..
1. Both games are inherently different. FO3 is made by a new studio(for the franchise) and based partly on their succes with TES... but with a different leveling system and other mechanics.. The fact they misunderstood some elements... 1) It is a commercial risk free title (ie no risk taking story wise... risquee elements from previous FO titles are still present but toned down) 2) Non of the original writers were present.
2. FO3 is an open world (!) RPG... with the emphasis on the first.
3. FO NV is more linear..... but also more of an RPG... however which doesn't abandon the open world.. (and in fact the linearity can be avoided as was mentioned by others)
4. However New Vegas should also been seen as an evolution.. People who understood the world ... thaught Bethesda how to use the formula..

As far as the different opinions go....
Let's use movies as a metaphor...
1. The Godfather III: On its own it is a well told mob movie... however compared to parts I and II it pales in comparison... However... from a 90's perspective.. it is faster... has better art design etc..etc.
2. Batman and the Dark knight... both movies are depicting the same hero, the same city but both are nowhere near the same.. Yet one might like Burtons vision while others will like Nolans vision..

In other words... as a new products it was done very well... and on its own it is a brilliant post apocalyptic open world RPG/ FPS hybrid.. however... it, according to fans it pales in comparison to previous titles in the franchise.. New Vegas is seen by many of those fans as a game using the (very well done) design of FO3 and bringing it more in line with previous titles...

I am not saying you aren't a true Fallout Fan. I am not trying to be hostile or offend you.

IMO a true RPG is one where you can make your own character, skills traits, backstory, six ect ect ect. Then putting that character into a world were you have many options in which to play the game, do the quests and role play that character. Different story paths, different out comes to quests and so on.

Fallout 3 lets us make half our character, the other half is pre-made. But what really makes it a none-RPG to me is the game writing which we both agree was poor. The game is good vs evil and we are forced to be good. Can't join the bad guys. It gets compounded because no matter what we are an 19 year old kid from Vault 101 and Daddy is a very important man.

I really didn't enjoy Fallout 3 (as a Fallout game) because it severly limits Role Playing, both the poor writing and the fact our character is already half made.

I don't want Fallout 4 to do that. I don't want them to say "You are a BoS Knight and you're mission is this and you are doing this because this happened." That is way to much. No matter what I will always be a BoS knight.

I want Fallout 4 to be like Fallout, Fallout 2 and New Vegas. Where it only gives us a title "Vault Dweller" "Chosen One" "Courier" and that is it. No damn back story about how old I am, who my parents are. Give me a title and a quest. Then put me in a game world where I can join or at least help every faction in the wasteland. Give me many ways to do the main quest line, give multiple ways to finish the quests. Don't give me "You are the good guy, now go out and kill the bad guy" crap.

I have played all of the fallout games in the series and I still like Fallout: 3 the most, NV just didn't have the apocalyptic feel to it.

I actually have some severe doubts you played all of the games in the series. At least more than 5 minutes.

Fallout 3 one of the best games ever made? In terms of being a Fallout game? Not even close. As a video game? New Vegas surpassed it objectively.

Thats his opinion. Dont try to damage it by attacking him with accusations you may have.

An individual's preferences in games isn't objective, but subjective.

Fallout New Vegas is objectively a better video game than Fallout 3.

Oh, I'm fully aware of the difference between objectivity and subjectivity, but Fallout New Vegas is objectively a better video game than Fallout 3.

Challenge: Throw some undeniable facts at us then..., let's see if they can be countered... Fact free opinionating is not helping anyone... (and being an ass about it even less)

Repeating that line over and over doesn't magically make it true.

If Fallout 3 didn't have the bug issues then maybe but I'd have to say no. Especially when compared to New Vegas, outside of New Vegas's open world and random scaling, New Vegas is the better game.