i have seen sooo many speech checks for science, of all things.

you can get into the strip for free by override commands, reprogram auto-turrets to attack others not you, and remember all that extra crap you had to do everytime someone needed some help with "research'? with the science check you just blurt out something that blows the other persons mind and they call you a genius. its free XP for just one click... not to mention all the computers you can hack to unlock doors/safes access logs with science!

after completing 45 quests, i think this is the most useful skill.

medicine may be a close second, or guns

Science is great, Medicine has helped in alot of quests too. My next character will be named Megamind, an evil Speech/Science/Sneak guy who will join the Legion. Gonna try for the no-combat or low-combat path. Good Natured and Small Frame. Eventually get Energy Weapons maybe, the only thing I can operate with a STR of 2.

I have 100 in : Guns, Lockpick, Medicine, Repair and Science.
I have 50 in: Sneak and Barter
I have 35 in: Survival

Everything else is below that

I've been very happy with how often Science/Medicine have gotten me out of pickles.

I want science and medicine to be crafting skills, the science speech checks are usefull, but I cant stand hacking, if i actually sit down and think about it its easy up to hard mode, then I just give up on very hard because I'm to impatient to think it out.

You can recycle and upgrade Energy Weapons ammo with Science, and I think you can create doctors bags and super stimpacks with medicine.
Both at work benches.