I think you're right that people who have just started to play the Sims 4 have no framework for comparison to the older games, but there have been multiple millions of new players worldwide since the game's humble beginnings and those people, like it or not, shape the current version of the game. The game's current demographics suggests that most player are young (under thirty) and female, hence the game's bias in terms of CAS items and the preference of the packs produced.
I have been playing the game since the very beginning and I agree that much has been lost, but some things have been improved too and not everything that's been lost is due to the new players. EA has taken ownership of the franchise, which has lead to enormous changes. This is probably the most significant influence.
I agree that play should foremost be fun, but personally, I find that too much has been taken out of the game to make it extremely fun for me.
More fun for me in the Sims 4 equates to gentle challenges and a more a realistic life context, as well as the ability to tell my stories. I'm not talking about graphic, real life horror and grit. Just more surprises good and bad, tasks and challenges, I like a little adversity, but it must be relevant and not totally random, as I noted earlier.
I think we're generally in agreement, but maybe I'm wrong.
