Anyway, I was stuck in Gomorrah with McCaffery's hat in my inventory so I decided to try wearing it before exiting the place and I got out without the game freezing. It could have just been pure luck but it's worth a try to those about to give up on the game

Well, it got me out of the Strip, but trying to go back (after turning the hat in) gets me the BSoD again. So I guess this could be used as a way to escape the casino(s), and that's about it

Apparently until it's patched you just have to not turn the hat in, I've tested it a couple times, you can only get in and out of the outdoor strip areas with it on. Really random bug, somehow the hat makes the difference between whether or not that area loads.

This is the only known 'fix' for the Strip issue. You pretty much have to wear that hat, or an Old Cowboy Hat ( same thing ) all the time entering or within the strip. Unfortunately my memory is [censored]e, so to prevent myself from forgetting to wear it I just keep the stupid-looking thing equipped all the time. Now the only issue I have is xbox overheating or whatever after a few hours playing.

Y'know, aside from the horrendous amount of terrain and NPC pathing bugs.

No, you do NOT have to wear the hat. You don't even have to buy/find/steal the hat.

Just use the wait feature, one hour at a time and check your map after every hour. Eventually Caleb will show up in Freeside. Kill him there (he's hostile towards the Kings, he was fighting them when he popped for me), loot his goods and be on your way. I bought the hat just in case and it now sits in my Novac room dresser because it's not needed.