Was Multitasking worth the loading screens?

I mean, I would be happy with just the neighborhoods being open world (the whole world doesn't have to be open world because I have to admit that it could become quite laggy) but you know, so you could visit your neighbors or go to a cafe if it is in the same neighborhood as your sim's house. (and just so no-one gets confused by neighborhood I don't mean like Newcrest or Oasis Springs but the small parts of those worlds with residential area and community lots)

I rarely ever leave my sims' home lot because the loading screens just take the fun away when you have to wait for like 5 minutes for the next lot to open...