But the game is definitely harder than FO3 (Murder Wasps!)
And the SPECIAL stats are definitely more important too, what with the greatly increased skill/stat checks in dialog. And also how the various stats also give you bonuses like charisma boosting followers and such.
Not for me at least. (No, I'm not trying to brag or anything.)
At level 30, scratch that, at level 20 it becomes a cake-walk once again since only 20% of the map is of any form of challenge to you.
SPECIAL has been improved. sure, but not nearly as improved as I hoped for.
In FO1 and FO2 it could really really hurt you if you picked 1 in a stat.
In FONV it's more like "Meh, I guess I'm going to be slightly worse in that area".
So yes, it has been improved, but improved enough? Not in my opinion.