New Vegas with mods it is real Fallout and in my opinion it is very good. For me:
Fallout 2, Fallout New Vegas, Fallout 1, Fallout Tactics, Fallout 3 (like tactics it is game only in universe), Falkout Brotherhood of Steal for ps2 - never play it.
If you want to have better New Vegas use nexus sites and download mods. I use few but I will find more and mods which make NV similar to orginals.
My mods:
Project Nevada - the main mod which is very good and you must have it.
Reality weather project
Pipboy 2500 - orginal oldschool pipboy, I love it!
I only use it but I must download classic armors, weapons, and maybe revelation interface (yes falloutish) and maybe hardcore mods. I love New Vegas and I hope Bethesda works with Obsidian on the new fallout. Obsidian should work on quests, roleplay, easter eggs etc and Bethesda on mechanic to make it more optimize and better.
Only one thing which I hate in New Vegas is engine and camera, but it is easy modding so...