NCR and Legion are equal in their trouttiness and goodness, though different in their types. House is a knob. Courier is a perfect and almighty being who constantly strives to improve... well, everything.

If I was a citizen of the game - meaning there is no Courier - I'd probably go for NCR. But I'm not. I'm the Courier, and I am the greatest damn thing that ever happened to the world.

It's kind of ridiculous in this greyscale game not only to have the player character be so damn magnificent, but also to allow them to take power. It makes the Independent route the only possible route for a sensible person to take.