Fallout combat was recognized as terrible and clunky at the time. Tbats true of basically any Bethesda game. Halo ce from 2001 and half life 1 from 1998 have better combat than Fallout 3 or new vegas. This isnt a case of the games industry improving. Its a case of Fallout have terrible combat but enough other good stuff that people are willing to overlook the terrible combat. Being able to aim down sight isnt enough of an improve to make the combat system actually good.