I think that consequences and randomness are fine in moderation.
I just played The Sims 3 again for the first time in years, and in one week:
My Sim gets his car stolen by a Burglar (who RUNS away with it) and I can't interrupt him and calling the cops does nothing.
He dates a 1 Star Celebrity, and Paparazzi crowd his house. It was a hot day, so they burnt to death. Then their Ghosts kept haunting my Sim's house, disrupting his actions.
Deer, Raccoons, Horses and a Unicorn show up outta nowhere.
The Zombie Apocalypse begins.
He gets abducted by Aliens.
A portal to the future just appears on his lot.
And a guy in a Llama fursuit shows up to his house.
A bit too random for my tastes ?