@LadybugLeslie - My suggestion is to again move out your sims 3 folder so a new one is created, then install the items that aren't showing in your game. You can rename that dccache file number to one up from your last one and add it to the sims 3 folder you moved out. Then delete the new sims 3 folder and move the other one back in again. OR... it could be just your ccmerged that is corrupt. You can google nona and ccmerged to find a good copy to replace yours. Here, I did that for you:
https://nonasims.wordpress.com/tag/ccmerged/
On the backup saves. ALWAYS use "save as" and you won't get backups. Just give your game a new name when you save like SV1, SV2, and SV3. That way you'll have backups without having "backups"
It keeps corruptions from happening so often because you are always creating a "new" save, rather than saving "over" the old one.
I delete all my old saves at the end of a play session so I'm ready for the next.