Simple: you want it, then earn it. Because this is a world of give-and-take(including in game worlds).
Just just take Doom for an example, if you have a plasma gun and BFG9000 in E1M1, what's the point to keep playing? All the fun and everything the game stands for are gone.

For me, it all depends on the reward. If there is a cleverly done mod with a mini-quest/objective with the reward of a player home, small weapon arsenal or multiple armor sets, then it's worth it to work for it. If it's a "Here's a gun...I shoved it in Dead Winds Cavern with a bunch of extra deathclaws spawned to attack you. Good luck (insert stupid emoticon here)" type mod, no thanks. If a mod only adds a single item to the world, I just add it myself to a locker or chest in Goodsprings or Megaton or where ever.

So, to vote in the poll...my hesitant answer would be to work for it. But like I said, it all depends on the risk vs reward.

It definitely depends on the reward.

But yes, I'd much rather work for something then have it spoon-fed to me because where is the fun in that? :p

I'd say the hard way, but it's not that easy either. Just throwing a giant/hard boss in the middle of nowhere or in a small building without any reason and/or explanation is as "bad" as just having them in a crate at the beginning of the game. Modders should try to create something around it like a lore or semi-lore friendly story and/or backstory, few quests, an enviroment and such things. But I know it's not that easy and just the writing part of that "story" can be frustrating to create if you lack of imagination and/or ideas, so I understand why most modders just put a box in the middle of the desert and give them away easily.

I think one of the best examples I can do is Honest Heart's armor/rifle. That small unmarked quest and that very well written backstory sure made the hunt more interesting, with those great (?) rewards at the end.

I like creating and writing my own stories for the mods that don't have them, they make the game more immersive..

It's been a while since I posted here, so my opinion has slightly changed.

While level-list integration is always a great option, sometimes I find myself wanting a more in-depth choice, and story surrounding the armor/weapons.

Dragbody's mod "The Courier's Cache" demonstrates this flawlessly. With the use of fantastic voice actors and great scripting, he turned a basic armor mod into an acceptable quest mod that, I always download with my New Vegas.

If more Weapon/armor mods could do something similar, that would be fantastic.

Depends, if it is simple with a somewhat challenging boss, them i'm content.

Definitely the quest. It makes the item that much more valuable. Some quests aren't that great, but I can always appreciate the effort the modded went through to make the mod an experience rather than just an item.

I prefer the hard way. The easy way just seems so dull and boring. I get way too bored with it that way then want a different mod. I like the satisfaction of working hard for it and finally getting it in the end.

If I start a new game if I like the hard way, but if I'm halfway through the game then I take the easy way.

The hard way every time.
My game is really really dark, the mod nvec comes with nightvision but requires no effort to acquire, it's just free.
It's such a huge dilemma whether to use it or not sometimes, however more often than not I don't. Choosing to rely on the pipboy light, flashlight or simply cateye to get by.

this depends on what kind of mod it is.

Everytime i start a new game and I have weapon mods installed that place the weapon somewhere I have to go on this map wide odyssey to collect all my stuff from all over the mojave.
Or if the equipment is added to a vendor for 10,587 million caps -.-
Thats not really an "easy" way to get the stuff. Its just a "non-fun" way to get stuff.
But on the other side you can't really have a thought out quest for every single piece of equipment.

My favorite way of getting stuff is looting enemies. Kill a bunch of fiends => (maybe) get a weapon as loot.

I always find the hard way to be much better, however I always want at least something from the mod right away.

Gaining things along to way is my preferred style, i find leaving the main part of the mod until the end is pretty annoying, but I'm always satisfied with mods that use vendors for items, makes me feel like I've earned it

I prefer getting my equipment the hard way.

It doesn't feel right for me if I get it the easy way, it also depends on if the equipment was worth it in the end.

It all depends how hard the work is and if it evens out with the reward. If I do three hours of quest for a kitchen knife I won't be pleased. If I do the same amount of work for a great armor then I'll be more than thrilled. The risk must be worth the reward.

I like to test weapon before I decide to keep it in game, Millenia did this awesome thing where he added extra option of having cabinet full of his weapons, ammo and their mods in Goodsprings.

I really enjoy having to work a bit for it, depending on the item in question. If it is something that should be rather common I like it to be integrated into leveled lists. But as many have said, testing the items, especially weapons, can sometimes be essential. Going through a long quest, getting a weapon only to find out it's useless or perhaps doesn't even work properly just sucks.

In case of a Armor or Weapon mod I would like a mod where you would have to fight throught tons of enemys e.g. some prewar armory packed with raiders, and if its a house or location mod I would rather have puzles to solve an maby little bit of enemys, but I know how mutch pain in the ass a little quest can be so I do not expect every moder to do a quest for every item they add into the game.

If you like a challenge its best to gather some mods and do a quest for them your self so you can choose how deficult it is and what you will get in return.

I'm a little on the fence about this, I always get my hands on the weapon as soon as I can to check it out and see what its like for myself but after I've played around with it I want to have to find it hidden somewhere or find parts to make it at a workbench, just kill someone for it or better yet a combination of all three

I don't mind as long as where it's placed fits well in the world. I'd rather shoot enemies to get it or find the weapons on a dead prospector instead of having an oddly placed footlocker in the middle of a road.

Working to get stuff is better than getting it from Doc Mitchells house