By the way, if you only want money or lockpicks and don't need gear you don't have to pass enemies and go to elevator. Just return to Hall of Heroes, enter, get salt, exit, repeat.

You should probably be more careful in 1999 mode when passing those enemies, they'll cause greater damage to you, but I know, that you know what you are doing if you're playing that mode.

Feel free to add your 2 cents. It's very likely I missed something and there's more to this than meets the eye.