Marie, it is disheartening, isn't it, when you put a lot of time and effort into things and then have to start all over again. I was playing 5 different families in rotation in 5 different hoods and they've all had to go...
As for bulldozing EA lots, I do keep a few and edit them to my taste. There are even a small amount of nice ones (mostly in AP) but majority of them are so hideous that the only way to improve them is to flatten them completely lol. But I NEVER download random lots from the exchange. I have downloaded a few from other sites if I have known and trusted the creator and know that there is definitely no cc in them.
I do always have buydebug on while I'm editing and look out for spawners. That is one lesson I learnt a long time ago.
