I really like that style! The maps especially are very beautiful.
I like the cartoony aspect, though some may not. I feel like there's a common ground possible there, though, it would just take some work.
I wouldn't change anything about those worlds, graphics-wise. The Sims themselves? I do feel like they could have some better shading and textures, which is where they may be able to dull down some of the very cartoon vibes. I still really like the very clean and somewhat exaggerated features in TS2 and TS4, as well as the photos above. But I've always been one for cartoons over realism!
That was my only complaint with TS3, it's graphics just didn't feel like Sims to me. Most Sims' faces were all too smooth, too rounded... It is still near impossible for me to make a "Manly-man" type Sim in TS3 for my Viking world :lol: I just always liked the stark edges and shadows in TS2, and TS4's style is just amazing to me, as well as other games that are similar. Even WoW still has that cartoony/fantasy factor that I just adore, but also the textures aren't too bad (when you consider the age of the game, too!)