I solved all these problems using script mods. I use Realistic Reactions (to cheating and other things), Immersive Vampires, Sacrificial, an adult one that has an added bonus someone had to tell me about, that gets rid of plumbobs so I can take better screenshots, and so on.
The only way playing God even makes any sense to me is if I just want to make a story with illustrations and use Sims as mannequins.
For gameplay, I agree, we need quirks, real ones not fame ones, surprises, some individuality, some chaos. Ine of my fave Sims was a surprise offspring from a one-nighter with a random NPC I never saw again, and he seemed to just roll onto the scene with one lip curled, looking for trouble. A Sim with attitude! Would love more of that.
