There isn't a "care for self mode"
It seems the game can manage not allowing sims to die if they are not in "live" mode but in live mode the artificial intelligence is actually really stupid, to the point of being a *.
The activities of your sim are all RNG based.
Easily seen if your sim has a job to go to.
Let's say your sim has to go to work in one hour. What does a sim do to prepare for going to work? Simple stuff like not going to be hungry, needing the toilet, being stinky or stressed out?
Your sim is too stupid to care for themselves and so you need to hand-hold each sim throughout it's whole development.
Another example. Your sim is in some need of a toilet but the only toilet is broken and wtaer is spraying everywhere.
You may expect your sim to at least have an attempt at repairing the toilet or at least call in a plumber to repair it.
Alas no. Your sim will * themselves and be appropriately embarrassed about doing so and may even take a bath afterwards... if the bath works.
D.
You seem to think that this should be a movie where you just watch what happens. But in games like this is you are actually meant to make decisions and control your characters. You avoid the kind of things you mention by Ordering your Sims to repair broken stuff, replace it or hire a handy man.
