I've only recently been playing as a vampire. I'm not loving it, I guess I'm still learning the ropes.
I don't enjoy being weak against fire - makes fighting dragons a bitch, unless they're frost dragons.
And I don't like being weakened during the day and not recovering. Yes, I can wait and sleep the hours away, but there's already enough of that when I need to use a shop, or can't be bothered to go and wake up the jarl to give my report.
I find the vampire lord form better than the werewolf form, since at least I don't lose my clothes when I revert, but I still can't pick stuff up. The hovering is useful for passing rocky terrain, though, and I like how it works as an alternative to sneaking.
I haven't quite got to grips with the seduction/thrall thing, so if somebody could advise me on that, it would be great.
My khajiit character looks pretty cool as a vampire, with his sabre fangs. It's a shame his vampire lord form doesn't have cat like features as well. Is it the same thing for all characters? Do even female vampire lords have male bodies, just like with werewolves?
As for Serana, I'm sick of her. I already did the Dawnguard questline with one character, and now I'm at the point with my Volkihar vampire character where I have to team up with her again, and I'm dreading it, to be honest.
I think Lord Harkon is more awesome. He's got a wicked voice, and his animations look better. Can't I stick with him and bump off his daughter instead?