I have two mods that are essential: MCCC and Road to Fame. I do have other mods I employ. SimRealist SNB and SNB& Bills. With these two mods, my Sims (in the same household) can have separate bank accounts, which I need, since Erik Cantrell, my young Rock Star, Global Superstar, was a Teen when he hit the big time. This keeps his money from intermingling with the household money and for me to have to keep books on the side. LOL Without RTF, Erik wouldn't be a Rock Star, making albums and posing for magazine covers, as any Teen Idol does.
Yes, it's a pain to have to update them every single time we get a big patch. Trust me, I've had to restart my save countless times since March 2020. That's why I try to keep things to just these four mods. I do have some cc, (having recently pulled the majority out of my folder for another time). I'm just hoping I won't need some of the Toddler toys and such after the Patch and Grow Together is released.
Going back to vanilla is no longer an option for me. Not unless, EA gives us back a Singer Career, that is. I can hope, right?