I hope it's not late for me to add my opinion, I was trying to play the Sims 3 earlier, and I have to say Sims 2 is better.
Why does everyone in TS3 still look the same after so many hour of custom content? Then when I play it's just so glitched that it needs Nraas and fixed world to even barely be stable. also The Sims 2 just has a general better soundtrack, CAS feels so upbeat, but TS3 just has it abruptly end while still trying to make someone... In then silence
Sure it has downfalls like men wearing sandals with jeans and a hoodie (which I had mod to turn into sneakers) and a lot of loadscreens (a sacrifice for openworld which can lag) but I also just have unique sims after all these years.
I also like want/fear system as it adds depth over a Sims death being turned over by a cake and a day at the spa in TS3