Does this method actually exist in the game? Or do you HAVE to take the pill if you want to use psionics. I want to know if anyone has TRIED the "old fashioned method" of obtaining the psi abilities. Doing this appeals to me a lot, rather than the immediate way, if it is an option.

I think it's the pill or nothing. This is from the official wiki:

"The player character also has this psionic potential, but it must be unlocked early on in the game by taking a pill that disables your brain's psionic inhibitor, thus granting you Psi Empathy. There is also the option of not taking the pill at all, leaving your character without any psionic abilities."

I agree it would be awesome if there was another method, like sacrificing some skill points as you level to "meditate" until you reach a certain point of unlocking your psionics.

What aspect of it appeals to you?

If you are put off by the assault to your immune system mentioned in the dialogue, then the Psi Empathy feat itself is what imposes the penalty, and it merely modifies your hitpoint pool to 75% of normal. Even if you could gain Psi Empathy through meditation, you'd still lose health pool.

However, the feat description states it "requires training" so no - you can't figure it out on your own through introspection and contemplation! It's flavour text.

You have to take the pill to use Psionics. I'm a heavy 100+ skilled Psionics specced user with a 90+ guns skilled, psionics + guns feats character. I can almost perpetually chain CC any single target, AE spells, guns and sometimes nades to clear enemy groups.

Psionics is balling.

Is the bug that's been reported on GOG versions as bad as it sounds in the other thread?

I just wish I could simply wait to unock psi powers in a different way if you wanted to. Collect 10 mindshrooms, consume them in a cave, trip out, and unlock the psi-powers that way. A delayed gratification for an alternate choice in doing something not the 'easy take a pill chemical way." Ah well! That there's an alternate choice/path to doing/achieving something. I know it's just flavor text, but like mentioned above, it wouldn't be too hard to just make a different way of doing it. Quick and relatively easy but not as easy as "take a pill"...much more natural of course, plus it makes it more "part of the journey", and appeals on so many more levels to me for different reasons, especially with the backstory/lore options it could have opened up.

No big complaint or anything though!

Cool idea - suggest it on the fora and some people will get on board. ... but all that slang and attention-seeking boasting is completely off-topic.