I didn't vote because I don't think any of the options suit my play style.
I let my teen and adult sims do what they want with some exceptions like when there are babies/toddlers that need taking care of/skilling and to get daily chores like gardening and cooking done. Occasionally I will stop my sims from doing some things, like watching the stars more than twice an evening, or trying for baby when I am not ready. I direct children quite a bit because I want them to get skilled before they grow up and are moved out.
I do pause a lot, not to fill queues but to take pics or to track down where my sims are and what they are doing.
I never switch households and feel no need to do so because Story Progression looks after my spares way better than I would have time for if they were in the household. I don't play very big households, usually no more than 10.
