If this game was a meal, it would be a Las Vegas buffet! The only piece of spoiled lettuce is the crashes.
If you do listen, just understand that this game rules! Why? First, the graphics and sound immerse you in the game. The perks and skills do actually make a difference unlike most RPGs, with stuff like a dude who shows up in VATS who blows your enemys into chunks with his revolver.
Also, when I say the time spent playing is 40 to 100 hours, Im not kidding. There are dozens and dozens of side quests for you to try, and if you get a DLC, that adds another 10 hours or so to it. Broken steel adds at least 20 hours to your game, due to the raised level cap, new quests, and new perks. Lets no forget the insane amounts of weapons in Fallout 3.
It isnt perfect, however. The 2 weak points to the game are the fact that the gunplay is way too V.A.T.S reliant and rediculous crashes. However, if you save the game frequently the crashes can be overlooked for the fact that this highly enjoyable game is well worth your money.