I feel disappointed with New Vegas. I feel like there is far less hostiles roaming the wasteland. In fallout 3 there was always a threat from bloatflies, mole rats and radscorpions, in NV there is hardly any. :swear:

The roads are generally safer, yes. And more things are connected to the roads. But you apparently haven't met the Cazadors or the new and improved Deathclaws.

New Vegas was not as badly damaged during the war as anywhere else, hence the lack of mutated creatures. The roads are alot safer because they are travelled more often by caravaners and such.

If you stay on the roads, you won't get much action. I notice a lot of red marks on the compass when traveling the roads. I have to use the binoculars to see them. I have been tore up by the radscorpions. Killed one molerat so far and if you want bloatflies go the the skydive place north of Primm and the cemetery near Goodsprings. Luckily I have not seen a Deathclaw yet, only warning signs about them.

Canonically, the NCR is said to keep the highways pretty safe. You'll see lots of mobs if you go away from them, though. Once you snipe what you think is a gecko from a large distance and realize that you've actually sniped a Deathclaw, you'll never say the Wasteland isn't dangerous again. (Ditto for Bloatfly > Cazador.)