The PC version has issues with memory leaks and a nasty refusal to cooperate with codecs. Beyond that, it runs fairly well.
Really? Cuz I played a couple of days without too many problems, besides abusing my prefontal cortex with harmful dosages of adrenaline. On the other hand, I do recall certain areas being really choppy after long play-times, like abandoned railway tunnels, or looking out at the broken portion of Rivet City's aircraft carrier.
My first character was sucko and died. Frequently. It's hard when you spec for energy weapons because they aren't easy to stock with ammo in the beginning (I didn't know about RobCo yet, note to self).
My second has 9's in each attribute except for Str (1), Luck (1), and End (2). I was also trying to max every skill using skillbooks, but it's hard to keep track of which ones I've found. There is a pretty accurate list of skillbook locations on Wikicheat's FO3 page (don't bother with the Flash map, it's not totally accurate yet). But for the time it takes to find the buggers, you'll be waiting forever to get every skill to 100 if you try to do them all at the same time. "Hard" (75 req) locks, computers, etc. will be out of reach for a while.
One solution for bookhunters is to max out Sneak and Agility right from the start, travel the wastes at night to avoid battles, and pickpocket keys. It will still be terrifically time consuming (that's a lot of traveling to do!) but it would work.
I would prefer to create a more focused character that was super-good at one combat skill and two or three non-combat skills. Then you can actually play the game and get the bonuses when they come.
I hate hacking and the fact that you have to be a certain skill level to even attempt lockpicking
Trust me on this one, that is a saving grace.
One of Oblivion's biggest problems is that many skills were absolutely broken, worthless, and dumb, especially lockpicking and speech. Why? Because your skill level in either of them was completely irrelevant; all you needed was to play a couple easy and boring mini-games, and your level -2 peon could persuade anybody and unlock the hardest locks.
In Fallout 3, skill levels actually mean something. Yay.