I am really glad you posted this issue, I have to say this is one of the most informative threads I've read on these forums. I have long suspected MOO to mess up my games some, though I noticed it with the base game and some of the houses that came with it were almost unlivable (because of the way objects were merged) so I avoided using it for years. Recently I have started using it for landscaping and lights but maybe I'll have to rethink that. The trees and fencing issues are really good to know about, I have never seen anyone mention them.
I am especially glad to know about the deleting sims issue! That is something I do pretty much in every game I start. I hate having to kill them off in game (I know they are just computer avatars but I still feel bad when I do it) so I usually move them out in edit town and trash them that way.
Thanks for all the helpful information that has been posted!
My games always seem to degenerate into lagfests, now I know a couple possible reasons. Up until Pets I never used cheats, cc, or mods (except motherlode and make all happy, occasionally). After Pets though I literally can not play with out mods because the game will systematically kill off all the toddlers in my towns (as well as adults too). Size of the town doesn't seem to be a factor as it will do it on half-empty ones as well as fuller ones. And as watcing a town develop and progress over time is a big part of the fun for me in Sims, I have to use mods now (Twallan's).
I have heard before that houses having outdoor items can lag neighborhoods. I have tried minimizing these items but have not really seen a difference. Recently, I have started minimizing skill items in neighborhood houses and instead incorporating them into commercial lots. So, for example, the art museum becomes a museum and art school with drafting tables, sculpting stations, and easels. I am not sure this will be an improvement or not as I am still in the process of rebuilding some lots. Does anyone know if this is as actual issue or not?
And one more question... does anyone know if using the ceiling light squares in buydebug affects the game (lag-wise or other)? I have just starting using them to augment some of the lights I love but that are too dim and I want to make sure I am not hurting my game.
