I'm a PC player who uses a lot of gameplay mods (heavily including ones making the game more challenging) and I think the type of answers like "create your own challenge" or "there's mods" are kind of a cop out. There are people who just can't use mods because of the platform. And sure, playing on console might be a choice and I agree in certain context (e.g. if you want more specific or "out there" content don't expect the devs to cater to you) BUT a thing like difficulty levels is kind of a staple in ANY game. In fact, from ones I play I can't even think of one without difficulty options besides the Sims (+ Dark Souls and online PvP, but even in PvP you often have competitive lobbies for the "try hard" crowd). And my game library includes all kinds of games from sandbox to survival to FPS to RPG to horror to whatever.
But considering the single play experience, unlike Dark Souls (which has from the start been defined by its' difficulty which is integral to its' whole design from gameplay to story), Sims is a sandbox game which has been through a kind of metamorphosis because earlier games were actually challenging but the series has been made easier and easier with each tittle. I personally grew more and more annoyed with the fact that nothing challenges me which is why I ended up downloading mods. I don't think it's weird to wish for an option to have a more challenging experience. In fact, this is one of the most re-occurring criticisms of this game I see. I think it'd be great to implement a mode in which, say, any numbers against the player be enhanced. They could make bills cost more, salaries less, death more probable, and countless of other ways. Wouldn't need much more expect for them to tweak the numbers. Or perhaps do stuff like disable warnings. Personally, I hate how the game holds your hand and gives you GLARING notifications whenever your sim is in danger. E.g. "your sim is about to die by a meteor strike, DO SOMETHING". I'd rather they don't do that and instead I had to actually pay attention to what's going on in the game (emote appears you know). Now it feels like in an unmodded game any death that happens (minus very few exceptions like emotional ones) is because I LET them to be happen. And that is boring and artificial as heck when it comes to storytelling.
