I agree. The positive moodlets last far too long and the negative not long enough. With the new likes and dislikes one of my Sims was prone to stomp out of a room because he found the furniture style offensive. That added a new dimension, but still, it didn't last long. I do think that the risk of life and death in the game is the major problem, though. As for balance, we only get three Trait slots. Yes, we can add Traits through aspiration points, but those are also positive. A well-balanced character should have at least two negative Traits for every three positive ones. Traits that actually direct how the Sim behaves. We're really not getting that now. I, too, have used Meaningful Stories, which helps to a degree.
A nice addition would be the toggles you cite at the end of your post. Me? I liked the challenge of keeping a pregnant Sim alive in Sims2. That was hard, but can be accomplished. All things shouldn't be so very easy. This is supposed to be a T-Rated game, not a General Audience game. I shouldn't have to help a Sim to the After Life, so to speak.
