My answer comes with a caveat. Without being interested in the main feature sometimes... or in every save.
I play a lot of ways and want all the things to be at my disposal for when I feel like playing another way. I just might not want them in every save game, or in ever sim family. I like optional ons and offs or toggles the best. It seems to cause less issues with fighting about who is right or wrong in how they play the game or what they buy or if they have a right to complain.
For instance I have Get Famous, but I'm glad you can step out of the spotlight or not even gain fame unless you choose to do so. I wish there were more options like celebrities not always showing up at libraries, restaurants ect.. I have Eco voting off for NPCs in nearly every save. I'm really glad you can disallow vampires now at your door because I don't want to play them in every save. I'm glad you can stop rain and thunderstorms and icy conditions that came with Seasons and I do it for some saves.. And so on.
Toggles, and options are key.
