So there are ways to make this interesting in the game and bring it back to balance. Some recommendations:
- The USI pulse nukes are expensive. Play on career mode so you are cash constrained and have to rigorously plan for their build, use, and refueling.
- Roleplay not using them anywhere near low home-planet orbit for fallout reasons. I.e. the ship is built and is parked in a shipyard in Cislunar space and kerbonauts must ride an intermediary shuttle vessel to crew it.
- Use a life support pack and planet mods that add interplanetary destinations. Having your kerbonauts on a nuke ship around an extrasolar planetary body far away from home with limited supplies will add plenty to the mix.
- The USI pulse nukes are expensive. Play on career mode so you are cash constrained and have to rigorously plan for their build, use, and refueling.
- Roleplay not using them anywhere near low home-planet orbit for fallout reasons. I.e. the ship is built and is parked in a shipyard in Cislunar space and kerbonauts must ride an intermediary shuttle vessel to crew it.
- Use a life support pack and planet mods that add interplanetary destinations. Having your kerbonauts on a nuke ship around an extrasolar planetary body far away from home with limited supplies will add plenty to the mix.