I don't understand what Tony's issue is that the historical reference is a little easier to access this time. Are you suggesting that only TRUE Fallout fans who work the ABSOLUTE HARDEST through the TOUGHEST CHALLENGES should be able to access this kind of content?
Hell, Dogmeat comes with a couple special companion abilities and it's obvious the developers were designing Fallout 4 to be a game about cooperation, teamwork and relationships. They want you to be able to build these long-lasting trust relationships quickly, and to have those characters permanently die off would undermine the very goals of the game's message.
How thick can you be not to see that?