During the course of completing this DLC, there are some extended conversations with Courier 6. He makes a lot of references to what the Courier (my character) did in the past... places I have been, things I have done...

Since I (the actual me playing the game) don't remember any of it, is it lore stuff from previous fallout games that I haven't played? (I played FO3 but nothing before that)

Or is it background for my current courier in FONV that isn't experienced anywhere in any game, that I am supposed to just listen to and absorb with the idea that I just don't remember any of it because of the brain trauma I have suffered at Benny's hand?

As I am writing this, I am thinking that the latter is the obvious answer. Am I right about that? Is my character expected to know what Courier 6 is talking about, or is he expected to be completely in the dark due to the brain injury? I just kind of glossed through these conversations in previous play-throughs, but this time I am going slow and really thinking about some of the dialogue.

It is the background to Courier 6. Ulysses and you worked together pretty much, until you took a package over to the divide that detonated the nukes in their silos and you, the Courier had no idea that would happen. Ulysses explains that he was awakened that day because one man can have that much impact on history. So he wants to show you that he can do the same thing by having you watch him launch the remaining nukes. That and he's out for some revenge against you for that part I didn't absorb very well. Also, YES, since your brain injury. You don't remember a thing. In fact your character is confused the entire time.

Not necessarily. I know the game gives that impression, but it was confirmed that the Courier doesn't suffer from amnesia (unless you choose him/her to).

You are Courier 6. And you didn't know that the device you brought to the Divide was causing the devastation. Ulysses (whom the Courier didn't even know) witnessed it though. He isn't out for revenge as he says himself.

He's just a deluded crazy man who cloaks his words in metaphorical gibberish to cloud the fact that his whole idea is just [censored] up madness. That's the way I see it at least.

On the other hand I can't get away the feeling that he sees himself as a teacher though. You can convince him to give up his plans, which is extremely inconsistent with his buildup. So maybe there's more to him. Maybe he lied to you and his plan was born just the moment he read your name at the Mojave Express out of nothing but the feeling that your fate would be decided with taking the chip and with him serving as your master, who really would teach you how much of an impact a Courier can have. This is pure speculation though.

The most complicated and imo shoehorned thing about Lonesome Road was the Ed-E clones. I still don't understand why they are there.