I have always played the Fallouts on my PS3.
But I have recently discovered the gold mine of mods that are available for the PC version.
I'd like to go buy the NV PC version from Best Buy ($30) to have a hard copy rather than a licensed download from Steam, who wants $50 for the base game.
However, I do want to buy Dead Money and get patches, like the 1.3 that I'm reading is needed for some mods, but I dont see how to get either, except via Steam.
So I'm wondering if I can buy the game from Best Buy, install it, create a Steam account to buy Dead Money and get patch updates? Or maybe I have to buy the base game from Steam?
It would be nice if I could the latest patches as a download from Bethesda and the DLC's from Amazon, but I guess neither is how it works?
I realize the DLC's are meant to be downloads, so that's likely a foregone conclusion.
I'm just loathe to have my credit card information on file with yet another 3rd party company.

Most of the time when you get games at best buy (or any store) that are on steam they make you install steam anyways.

Some even make you dl the game from steam, rather than have it on the disc.

You are so right. I just saw this on Best Buys NV purchase:

PC Additional Requirements
Internet service and free Steam account required for activation

I remember when I bought Half Life II, it made me activate through Steam. Few years went by and I decided to reinstall it, but I had forgotten my Steam account info, and no longer had the email I used.
I couldnt get back in, so Half-Life II was basically a coaster.
I was very pissed off over that.

Follow up question then, since I must use Steam... Can I install this on both my systems or does Steam detect my system board serial, etc?

I think you can install on both systems, but you can only use one at a time, as you need your steam account to be signed in to play.

Holy shiznit. I need an active internet connection to play a locally installed game I bought a hard copy of at a store?
How is this even remote a good thing? I must be too old fashioned.

it's a good thing because you don't have to have the cd in the drive, automatically download patches, and can (apparently) save your saves onto Steam, so if your PC dies you can just reinstall it on a new machine and carry on. (Although I'm not sure Steamsave works in New Vegas)

But for the few people that don't have a constant high speed internet connection, Steam is pure hell.

Head on, Apply directly to the forehead!

You can always access save files, copy them to a flash drive and place them on that computer. Though Steam is better to use sense they'd be responsible for any data corruption.

Yes and no. Once you have the game installed (and steam re-downloads and re-installs it), you can play it from the steam menu, even if you have no working internet connection. Just play it offline
I had no internet and not much to do for a couple of months (going out was not a safe option), so can definitely confirm that I was able to play FO NV and Dragon Age 2 without internet.

Not so. I canceled my broadband internet a few months ago. I still managed to DL the latest patch for NV to prep for HH which I will be buying on release day. I tether my Android to the computer and do it through the phone. Still takes the same amount of time through my smart phone as it did with my broadband connection.