Thanks for putting up this thread. I hope a guru will give some answers. This is one of those times when the fix is worse then the bite.
I am thinking of just stopping at University. 1.5 has problems, but at least I can build and play my game.
On Sims 2 I used a mac, and EA stopped producing the game for Apple at Bon Voyage. I still enjoyed Sims 2 for another 2 years, so I am thinking I can enjoy sims 3 for another 2 or 3 years, stopping right where I am at. If they fix the problems then I will load my per-ordered Island Paradise.