I didn't play with whims unless my sim was just doing what was popped up usually. I didn't mind them but kept them turned off when it became the standard for the game to start with them off. I think they stopped doing them because of complaints mostly.. maybe the telemetry showed they weren't being pursued.. who knows?
I know I don't want want's and fears Sims 2 style back ever. I hated my sims aspiration score (happiness) being dependent on doing them and always had to get a mod to be able to lock more of them. Yeah I know some people want them back but please just no... well unless they give us a way to lock everything we want too or to chose what would make our sim happy.