I noticed a few oddly placed missing item textures in my pipboy over the last few days, so I decided to investigate. Turns out I was using Master Release 4.1 with the 5.02 patch (stupid me). So, logically, I decided to update to Master Release 5.0 with the 5.02 patch, and updated the rest of my load order to go with it (appropriate FOIP patches, added EVE recommended in FWE load order, updated Mez's merged patch and added recommended DUI patch)

Now my game loads the opening video but never quite gets around to loading interactive elements (i.e. the menu)

What the fudge is going on here?

load order:

Mod load order report! Warning: current load order template contains 59 duplicate entriesFallout3.esm   Masterlist Information: $Revision$, $Date$, $LastChangedBy$Anchorage.esmThePitt.esmBrokenSteel.esmPointLookout.esmZeta.esmUnofficial Fallout 3 Patch.esmCRAFT.esmCALIBR.esmProject Beauty HD version.esm* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateFO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esmMart's Mutant Mod.esmStreetLights.esmUnofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Operation Anchorage.espUnofficial Fallout 3 Patch - The Pitt.espUnofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Broken Steel.espUnofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Point Lookout.espUnofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Mothership Zeta.espProject Beauty.esp (Inactive)   Either Project Beauty HD version.esm OR Project Beauty.esp please!StreetLights - Wasteland.espCRAFT - Activation Perk.esp! This plugin requires ' craft.esm', which was not foundDarNifiedUIF3.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateBoSPatrols.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Anchorage.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC The Pitt.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Broken Steel.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateFO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Point Lookout.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateFO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Mothership Zeta.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateFO3 Wanderers Edition - Optional Restore Tracers.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - Optional Worn Weapons.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty.esp (Inactive)* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateFO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty (HD Addition).esp* This mod does not exist in the current templateFO3 Wanderers Edition - UFP Support.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateWeaponModKits.espWeaponModKits - FWE Master Release.espWeaponModKits - FWE Optional Worn Weapons.espWeaponModKits - OperationAnchorage.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateWeaponModKits - ThePitt.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateWeaponModKits - BrokenSteel.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateWeaponModKits - PointLookout.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateWeaponModKits - Zeta.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateWMKAA12Shotgun.espStealthboy Recon Armor - CRAFT.esp! This plugin requires ' craft.esm', which was not foundEVE.espEVE Operation Anchorage.espEVE - FWE Master Release.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateEVE Anchorage - FWE DLC Anchorage.espEVE - FWE with WeaponModKits.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current templateOMFG.esp* This mod does not exist in the current templatekikaiLibertyRifle.esp* This mod does not exist in the current templateMart's Mutant Mod.espMart's Mutant Mod - DLC Anchorage.esp! This plugin requires ' anchorage.esm', which was not foundMart's Mutant Mod - DLC The Pitt.esp! This plugin requires ' thepitt.esm', which was not foundMart's Mutant Mod - DLC Broken Steel.esp! This plugin requires ' brokensteel.esm', which was not foundMart's Mutant Mod - DLC Point Lookout.esp! This plugin requires ' pointlookout.esm', which was not foundMart's Mutant Mod - DLC Zeta.esp! This plugin requires ' zeta.esm', which was not foundMart's Mutant Mod - No Ghoul Raise.espMart's Mutant Mod - FWE Master Release.espMart's Mutant Mod - FWE with EVE.esp* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template! This plugin requires ' fo3 wanderers edition - main file.esm', which was not found! This plugin requires ' eve.esp', which was not foundtubunarFWE.esp* This mod does not exist in the current templateMart's Mutant Mod - Project Beauty.esp (Inactive)* This mod does not exist in the current templateMart's Mutant Mod - Project Beauty (HD Addition).esp* This mod does not exist in the current templateMart's Mutant Mod - Project Beauty + FWE.esp* This mod does not exist in the current templatedD-Less Blood Time.espdD-Smaller Wounds.espdD-Smaller Spatters.espMez's Merged Patch 5-0 - DLC-FWE-WMK-MMM.espKH_223EX.esp* This mod does not exist in the current templateThe order that the current template suggests is as follows:fallout3.esmanchorage.esmthepitt.esmbrokensteel.esmpointlookout.esmzeta.esmunofficial fallout 3 patch.esmproject beauty hd version.esmcraft.esmcalibr.esmfo3 wanderers edition - main file.esmmart's mutant mod.esmstreetlights.esmunofficial fallout 3 patch - operation anchorage.espunofficial fallout 3 patch - the pitt.espunofficial fallout 3 patch - broken steel.espunofficial fallout 3 patch - point lookout.espunofficial fallout 3 patch - mothership zeta.espproject beauty.espdarnifieduif3.espstreetlights - wasteland.espcraft - activation perk.espbospatrols.espfo3 wanderers edition - main file.espfo3 wanderers edition - dlc anchorage.espfo3 wanderers edition - dlc broken steel.espfo3 wanderers edition - dlc mothership zeta.espfo3 wanderers edition - dlc point lookout.espfo3 wanderers edition - dlc the pitt.espfo3 wanderers edition - project beauty.espfo3 wanderers edition - project beauty (hd addition).espfo3 wanderers edition - ufp support.espfo3 wanderers edition - optional restore tracers.espfo3 wanderers edition - optional worn weapons.espweaponmodkits.espweaponmodkits - fwe master release.espweaponmodkits - operationanchorage.espweaponmodkits - thepitt.espweaponmodkits - brokensteel.espweaponmodkits - pointlookout.espweaponmodkits - zeta.espweaponmodkits - fwe optional worn weapons.espwmkaa12shotgun.espstealthboy recon armor - craft.espeve.espeve - fwe master release.espeve operation anchorage.espeve - fwe with weaponmodkits.espomfg.espkikailibertyrifle.espeve anchorage - fwe dlc anchorage.espmart's mutant mod.espmart's mutant mod - dlc anchorage.espmart's mutant mod - dlc the pitt.espmart's mutant mod - dlc broken steel.espmart's mutant mod - dlc point lookout.espmart's mutant mod - dlc zeta.espmart's mutant mod - no ghoul raise.espmart's mutant mod - fwe with eve.esptubunarfwe.espmart's mutant mod - project beauty.espmart's mutant mod - project beauty (hd addition).espmart's mutant mod - project beauty + fwe.espmart's mutant mod - fwe master release.espdd-less blood time.espdd-smaller wounds.espdd-smaller spatters.espmez's merged patch 5-0 - dlc-fwe-wmk-mmm.espkh_223ex.esp

found it. Mez's Merged patch is not compatible with something in my load order. I suspect it's the mismatched WMK version numbers. Reported to the FWE thread.

Fallout3.esm    Masterlist Information: $Revision$, $Date$, $LastChangedBy$  Anchorage.esm  ThePitt.esm  BrokenSteel.esm  PointLookout.esm  Zeta.esm  Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch.esm  CRAFT.esm  CALIBR.esm  Project Beauty HD version.esm (Inactive) * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esm  Mart's Mutant Mod.esm  StreetLights.esm  Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Operation Anchorage.esp  Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch - The Pitt.esp  Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Broken Steel.esp  Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Point Lookout.esp  Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Mothership Zeta.esp  Project Beauty.esp    Either Project Beauty HD version.esm OR Project Beauty.esp please!  StreetLights - Wasteland.esp  CRAFT - Activation Perk.esp ! This plugin requires ' craft.esm', which was not found  Stealthboy Recon Armor - CRAFT.esp ! This plugin requires ' craft.esm', which was not found  DarNifiedUIF3.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  BoSPatrols.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  KH_223EX.esp * This mod does not exist in the current template  OMFG.esp * This mod does not exist in the current template  kikaiLibertyRifle.esp * This mod does not exist in the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Anchorage.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC The Pitt.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Broken Steel.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Point Lookout.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Mothership Zeta.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - UFP Support.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Optional Worn Weapons.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Optional Restore Tracers.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  FO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty (HD Addition).esp (Inactive) * This mod does not exist in the current template  tubunarFWE.esp * This mod does not exist in the current template  WeaponModKits.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  WeaponModKits - FWE Master Release.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  WeaponModKits - FWE Optional Worn Weapons.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  WeaponModKits - OperationAnchorage.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  WeaponModKits - BrokenSteel.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  WeaponModKits - ThePitt.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  WeaponModKits - PointLookout.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  WeaponModKits - Zeta.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  WMKAA12Shotgun.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  EVE.esp  EVE Operation Anchorage.esp  EVE - FWE Master Release.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  EVE Anchorage - FWE DLC Anchorage.esp  EVE - FWE with WeaponModKits.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template  Mart's Mutant Mod.esp  Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Anchorage.esp ! This plugin requires ' anchorage.esm', which was not found  Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC The Pitt.esp ! This plugin requires ' thepitt.esm', which was not found  Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Broken Steel.esp ! This plugin requires ' brokensteel.esm', which was not found  Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Point Lookout.esp ! This plugin requires ' pointlookout.esm', which was not found  Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Zeta.esp ! This plugin requires ' zeta.esm', which was not found  Mart's Mutant Mod - No Ghoul Raise.esp  Mart's Mutant Mod - FWE Master Release.esp  Mart's Mutant Mod - FWE with EVE.esp * The current load order of this mod does not match the current template ! This plugin requires ' fo3 wanderers edition - main file.esm', which was not found ! This plugin requires ' eve.esp', which was not found  Mart's Mutant Mod - Project Beauty.esp * This mod does not exist in the current template  Mart's Mutant Mod - Project Beauty (HD Addition).esp (Inactive) * This mod does not exist in the current template  Mart's Mutant Mod - Project Beauty + FWE.esp * This mod does not exist in the current template  dD-Less Blood Time.esp  dD-Smaller Wounds.esp  dD-Smaller Spatters.esp  Mez's Merged Patch 5-0 - DLC-FWE-WMK-MMM.esp