We all do have our different preferences. You may like the game, and you may hate it. Depends if it fits on the way how you play the game. By that means play the game that makes you happy.
BTW Sims 4 had a same number community lots in the base game(excluding rabbitholes) like in three. There are 9 types community lots. It just seems that there are less place to go because its not open world and not all the content are shown on your screen immediately, and that you have to build them(like in NewCrest)
Anyways like I say play the gfame you will find the <3 <3 the most. IF you can't play Sims 3 and you didn't like Sims 4 then I suggest go with The Sims 2 :)