I like the reduced traveling speed, before wipe you traveled so fast that you didint have time to enjoy the beaty and harshness of the wasteland
I would agree with you if there was more interesting random maps (with houses, farms, npc with dialogues, etc.)
If you want to make enemies, try to change something.
Encounters round guarded towns (except VC and SF) should be as low as they can go. Ie 0 level difficulty.