No fancy equipment just a bulk pistol from the start and a power pistol from the arena and common armor till just about the end.
My only RNG supplied unique was the hell staff and my exotics weren't much better (I saw FOUR assault shotguns...)
Mortuary should provide you with a power and bulk mod. You could've gotten away with two P1B1 pistols, just be sure to check the corners next time.
The hellgate is easy if you have a plan and remember phase kits ALWAYS warp you back to the room you entered.
Except...they don't? (Frankly, I'm not even sure I know what you mean. Do they warp you back to the room you just came from, or any room you've been in, or the room you're already in?) Phase devices are random, as far as anyone can tell.
Three of my hell levels were arachnotron caves. I don't understand why arachnotron caves are so hated, I've always found them easy.
Well, there are two things going for you: MGK build and HNTR difficulty. Unless you're at a rather close range, Arachnotrons have some piss-poor aim with their shots (harder difficulties correct this with increased to-hit chances). Add to the fact that you have HRx2, DM and insta-shots with MGK after dodging, and they aren't that much of a deal.
Furthermore, you've probably seen at most, what, six? By the time you're in Phobos Hell, UV has about double that. This isn't even mentioning how much earlier they can show up in the first place. It's almost ridiculous how much the game ramps per difficulty, but I suppose UV would be uninteresting if it wasn't as hard as it is now. (N! is always unfair.)
The Mortuary was an accident (curse berserk packs screen effect) and I thought I was screwed.
ALWAYS check the descriptions as they appear. The game will tell you what stairs you're on (special levels are read as "You see the stairs to [name]." or something similar). I can tell you that using the look command, though repetitive, can really help during berserk mode.
Still, congratulations are in order for a Mortuary victory with plain pistols. I usually don't consider it (or, if there was some accident or unavoidable situation on the previous floor) I'd just head for the stairs without at least a blaster.
As a side note I changed pistols and former humans to green because I kept confusing them with shotguns and sargents. What's the entity ID for 10mm ammo?
For all your identification needs.