I find the game is completely different when you do/don't take followers.

Storage Capacity: On one extreme we have ED-E and Boone (or some lesser combat-oriented NPC), which offers huge storage capacity (+ 420 lbs minimum with both), and that changes everything. The ability to carry every weapon in the game, as much ammo as we can dream of and the kitchen sink to boot - I become a walking Arsenal of Doom. Even in hardcoe on Very Hard mode, having 500 rounds of .50 JHP ammo on Boon or ED-E means death to all of Quarry Junction in one pass-through. Contrast that to the lone warrior that has to carry everything on back, and suddenly the number of weapons is hugely limited, the amount of ammo you can carry is limited, and managing my inventory becomes one of the Key mini-games of the game. On different play-throughs I found this contrast to be the most striking of all.

Combat: They make a HUGE difference in battle, and I don't mean because they are awesome killing machines (which Boone is). What I found much more significant was how often the NPC would become the Tank (the primary target of the NPCs), allowing me to stand-off and kill them without taking any direct fire (or greatly reduced fire) myself. When Veronica or Lily charge the enemy, your suddenly much more free than if all the bad guys are aiming at you (and only you). The fact that even on the hardest modes, they heal-up after battle and thus are wonderful damage sponges that require very little maintenance. I can just imagine on the easier modes it would be like setting cruise control for combat - set aggressive and let Boone do all the work. When it's just you, its a whole different game when 5 or 10 NPCs all charge at you. I found that the tactical decisions I made about combat (what I would fight, how I would fight) became radically different based on having a follower or going alone.

Story: Having them is a huge aspect of the game IMHO, and one should have at least one play-through with using NPCs and going on their various quests. I find them fascinating and fun - wondering when Veronica would start chatting about BoS or when ED-E would suddenly start doing his thing. I definitely recommend one play-through with the NPCs, especially if your interested in the story more than the combat - they are game changers in that way.

I could go on, but in summary I feel that the game is very different when using them/not using them, and offers at least 2 play-throughs if you try it both ways. I find playing alone is much harder and more challenging, where using them is more relaxing and interesting.

Miax

You heard right, I'd say, he is pretty overpowered. Which is why I don't use him, although he is helpful because of his overpowered-ness, I prefer to travel with some of the less ridiculously powerful companions.

But no, I wouldn't say it's bad that you prefer not to use companions. This isn't a party based RPG, whether you travel with anyone or not is your choice, and if you don't feel comfortable playing the game that way, you don't need to take companions. Although if you never travel with companions at all, you will miss out on some of the quests in the game, but these aren't main story quests, and there are still many other quests you can do, companions can also provide, well, companionship, though if you WANT to travel alone, that might not be a good thing. I also like some of their perks, and they can be helpful in a fight, when they're not being complete idiots and running in front of me while I'm shooting, thus causing me to waste ammunition since it ends up hitting them instead of my enemies, and they also end up getting hurt in the proccess, then again, sometimes I feel like they deserve it when they act like that. If nothing else, they can carry your extra loot, you just have to be careful about giving them faction armor to carry.

In short, choose whatever suits you, companions are nice if you want someone to travel with and to watch your back in a fight, or if you want to do their quests, or even if you just feel like even with ten strength and strong back, you just can't carry enough loot! But if you feel you'd enjoy the game more without companions, then why make your game experience worse by using an option you don't want to use?

One interesting thing I noticed about the companions is that most of them hate CL and I'm getting close to the end of my first playthrough, where the end game choices I make may cause Cass to part ways.

It seems if you side with CL, the only companions that will stay with you are Rex and ED-E (maybe Raul or Lily?). I understand there was another companion, Ulysses, who was pro CL but was later removed from the game.

I used her for a little while and yeah, she's a looney. I regret having to restart the playthrough but like a fool I chose Meltdown for a perk. She's one of the few I'm interested in using. She's still gonna wait outside while I explore.

I just do it for her

I'm a big fan of the Companions. Since I don't play on hardcoe mode, I like to use them as bait/punching bags for the enemies. For example, there's a location guarded by about 8 or 10 robots, I just let them go ahead and fight them, they get knocked out, I clean up after them. There's definitely something a little unfair about a companion who can walk up to a Giant Rad Scorpion and knock it out with one or two punches, but at the same time, I guess it makes up for not being able to be overpowered yourself in the game for the most part.

Also, Fawkes in FO3 was pretty overpowered. Unlimited use of a Gattling Laser that he shredded enemies with? He could take 3 Deathclaws on his own (even if they were wimpy FO3 Deathclaws)

I love my companions, even customized all their armors and gave them unique weapons. Even when Im not using them its cool too see an army chillin inside my hotel suite. Play however you like and have fun but they set the game off for me. If you think they are op then raise the difficulty or fight harder stuff.

I played about half of my first game with just Ed E and then picked up Boone. I liked the company even if he was a bit grumpy. My second game I loaded a mod that allowed unlimted companions but then toned it down to where they were based on my charisma (as it should be). I enjoyed companions but felt they made it a little too easy. I think more people should be freaked out by Lily.

I love the charisma based companion mod. The thing for me is that I really didn't enjoy either Rex or ED-E all that much, so I'm happy with 2 or 3 human companions. Actually, I'm happy with just one, but since I'm mostly goofing off in the game at this point, I just enjoy letting them overpoweredly kill everything while I watch. Wait, that sounds wrong somehow....

I had a situation (I won't say exactly where) in a certain irradiated town where I exited a house and was immediately attacked by 3 giant radscorpions up close and personal (seemed scripted due to dialogue with quest). I had boone and ed-e with me to take some of the attention off of me. They both were dropped unconcious, but not before saving me from being killed. Yes, I couldve just reloaded my save, but I feel like a loser constantly dying in a game like this and rather just have companions help me out.

Thats what I did in FO3. I had 6 girls with me. I was just in Autumns coat with a pistol to shoot something to start off the battles for the most part. I had to grind enclave spawns with MMM increased increased to hand over PA and energy weapon just to keep them supplied with 5.56mm ammo! XD

perks
carry weight.

need i say more?

I don't feel the same, but there is nothing wrong with going solo. I honestly think that ED-E is darn near mandatory. Raul is pretty great as well but really when you get right down to it, no companion is make or break. If you are having fun without them, then by all means, shine on you crazy diamond.

It was amusing to just stand there and let my crew go in and mow everyone down.

I love companions, its adds an extra depth to the game, and that makes it much more interesting. I like the idea of having someone to accompany you as you wander the Mojave/Capital Wasteland, even if its just a dog. If it were real life, I know that I'd prefer to have some company to help carry/kill things.

I've never found that they are unstoppable killing machines, though. I think that they are easily overwhelmed and you need to look out for them. I also like the new companion quest feature - now they are not just blind followers, but have their own back story and want you to help complete it for them.

I'm a huge fan of companions too and I'm going to miss Boone's perk in the next game. I've come to rely on it.

I love Fawkes; he was a machine! I'm fine with them handling the baddies and keeping me safe. Too fun!