I agree with everything in the OP except for the combat bit. The moment to moment combat and looting is an improvement over Fallout 3. Too bad the looting was ruined by the miserable crafting system.
*The crafting isn't bad on its own. It was ruined by a combination of factors: Virtually everything in the game has some kind of crafting value + shitty inventory manipulation that breaks down when you start carrying a variety of stuff + weight limit
edit: I still can't believe how much they dumbed down the dialogue and quest design from even Fallout 3. I hoped they'd take some inspiration from New Vegas at least. Instead, they doubled down in the other direction.
*The crafting isn't bad on its own. It was ruined by a combination of factors: Virtually everything in the game has some kind of crafting value + shitty inventory manipulation that breaks down when you start carrying a variety of stuff + weight limit
edit: I still can't believe how much they dumbed down the dialogue and quest design from even Fallout 3. I hoped they'd take some inspiration from New Vegas at least. Instead, they doubled down in the other direction.