I'd be content if the townies were like the ones in TS2. There are a great number of them, they live in off screen family bins, have random occupations, and other than the designated slobs are presentably dressed. There is a wide range of personality types and ages as well giving a feel of a broad based community that one's sims are a part of. Some, if you had the right pack (Apartment Life, I think), belonged to factions (socialite, gear-head, jock, and another I've forgotten) each of which had a unique greeting and favorite converstion topic. Using said greetings and conversations gave you a fast track in relationship boosting. There was a separate set of townies for restaurant jobs, sales clerks, etc. which spared your sims from being drafted, and even the service sims were interactable with. A much better system than in 4, and no culling, either.
