One feature I am missing with companions which should offset their limited AI: ability to use stimpacks (and other healing items/drugs) from their inventory. Perhaps also add command to the companion wheel: set autoheal policy on/off. Or even better something what was already in Fallout 2: use stimpack/powder when health < X%.

That would make life with companions much easier on hardcoe and would be still realistic.

What I'd really like is a ''Duck and Cover'' when life becomes
Would be really useful in a fight where the enemy is at a massive fire superiority, so Veronica wouldn't just stand there and have her ass turned into swizz cheese by a thousand NCR maniacs armed to the teeth.

That would require improving AI and to code new algorithm. And not easy one for that matter. Ability to use stimpacks on the other hand is relatively easy thing to do, you do not need to add/change as much code. Most work would include GUI probably. It would however have quit large effect on usability of companions in hardcoe mode.

they use stimpacks. Just drop some of them in their inventory.

As has been said, they use them if they have them... Its been that way since Fallout 1.
(But dogs can't use them, you have to do it... I dunno yet how the games handle Dogmeat or Rex ~I've never had either long enough to need to heal them).

Are you sure? Bonne did not use single one and I play with him for quit some time already. Did not find anything related in game texts either. I don't remember Fallout 1 anymore but in Fallout 2, yes they used stimpacks and other chems. There was interface to set when and how. That's what inspired me to write this post in the first place.
And I don't talk about interface where you can apply stimpack to companion yourself. I speak about companions using stimpack (and other healing chems) from their own inventory on their own.