The difference is that Christopher Robin walking over a log isn't a core gameplay feature.
When one of the only interactable objects in Eco Lifestyle that Maxis hypes up turns out to be a reskinned bee box, people have a right to be miffed.
We're paying good money for the least possible effort.
Yes, they do it to save time and money, but The Sims makes billions of dollars. It's one of EA's highest-selling games, yet it gets a fraction of the budget that Madden, NHL, Battlefront, Medal of Honor, Need for Speed, or Literally Any Star Wars Game receive (except ironically Journey to Batuu)
We're allowed to be annoyed that EA is cheating the players AND the developers out of unique gameplay experiences.