download The Sims 4 without downloading Origin

You really do have to download it to use it legally. It stinks too. I was very angry when I realized this problem. I am not angry with EA necessarily, though by all means they are in-part responsible, but I am angry at the idea that just because there is a popular game, users can be treated however they please. EA is not alone in this. I'm reminded about Microsoft and its Internet Explorer. Users begged pleaded and cried over Microsoft's deaf ears on feature requests and restrictions. I personally emailed them (yes, this was back when email addresses were the only way to contact folks, forms were seldom, if ever, used) and warned them that someday, another browser will come out and even another operating system, that will ruin their dollar signs in their eyes. Netscape was a joke, but Firefox wasn't.. then there was Chrome... and in the meantime, out came Ubuntu. 

I'm really surprised that there is not a competing Sims-ish game out there. In the beginning, Sims was much more friendly but here lately, not so much. There are so many limitations. It's like they have concluded that we can get mods anyway, so why bother designing them? There is evidence that this is true, by making it easier to install mods... but I digress. 

Origin really isn't all that bad, but it does use a lot of resources when it's open in the background. Even to run Sims you have to use Origin.