Nice build.

I opted for something similar and always Tagged Lockpick, Survival, and Repair.

So that when I rolled Skilled and Good Natured I started with very high non combative skills and was really quickly able to bring up guns and get perks like Hand Loader, Light Touch, etc.

Though I never opted for Power Armour simply because I'm not a huge fan of the T-51b. I did love the Lonesome Road variations of Combat Armour and the Rebreather.

Which is what I wore.

I chose Willow and a Baby Death Claw as my companions those mods were too good to pass up.

God I LOVE New Vegas. Its my all time favorite game. Hands down.

The 12.7mm SMG is a blast to use once you get the silencer. A real hidden gem, because most people write it off because of sleepytyme, but its better than sleepytyme. Made me feel like a mix of a 40k Space Marine a Judge Dredd once I got all the upgrades. I dispenced high caliber wastlenad justice. It usually only took me 10-12 rounds to down a normal deathclaw, and 1 round for any human enemies with light armor. 5 for power armor. The only downside is the rarity of 12.7 ammo, but when each shot does that much damage, its easy to be conservative with even a SMG. Stop at the gun runners regularly, as they sell 250-300 rounds every few days. My favorite weapon, personally. Just fun to use.

The Laser Rifle is just dirty once you get focusing lenses and the beam splitter. Combine that thing with the meltdown perk. I've killed 5 deathlaws with ONE micro fusion cell. It just starts a chain reaction of death. The best part is that MFC is super common, and any energy weapon ammo can be easily converted to it. And you can get one at as low as level 4-5 easily if you want.

The GRA Chainsaw. What a monster. If you ever play a melee character, get this thing ASAP. The best melee weapon in the game. It does rediculous damage, at a continuous rate, and has massive durability. I'd guess that you could get one of these things to last you an entire play through without breaking.

Really though, those are probably the three best weapons in the game, for each of the three most common playstyles.

Don't get me wrong. I don't like it to be super easy either, so I limit myself in other ways.

1.) Hardcore. Always.
2.) Strict carry weight limit. I never let myself carry more than 75. Really makes you consider whether you need a can of porknbeans or a bottle of water more. This limits my ammo count a lot.
3.) Badly optimized character. I always leave strong flaws. Like my last character was super frail and unlucky. Like 2 endurance and luck. I had to make tough choices about my implants in that play through.
4.) Weapon limits. I never use more than 2-3 weapons, and the weapon I use can never wiegh a total of more than 25. My
last play through I only used the 12.7, the Trail Carbine, and a Combat Knife. This prevents me from walking around with a minigun, anti materiel rifle, and 50 mines. I also try tom prevent myself from using more than 1 2 handed weapon, but I'll bent that rule depending in the character. Some people just wouldn't be complete without a rifle and a shotgun...
5.) I always roleplay. If my character wouldn't actually say the right words to make that 45 speech check, I won't do it.
6.) Throw away the damn Vault 13 canteen. Unlimited water and passive healing from day 1? Crutch.
7.) No fast traveling, for the most part. If Im at the crimson caravan, and I just need to ho to the strip, I'll do it. Usually, if I know its going to be an uneventful trip that I've already taken many times, I'll fast travel. But if its to a place I hardly ever go, or takes me through a place I've never been, I'll walk.
8.) Speech OR Barter. Never both. The two most powerful skills in the game. I usually opt for speech.
9.) Stim pack limit. I never carry more than 10. I'll pick up more, but I never leave my hotel room with more than 10.