I'm always curious about how other people play, and I haven't seen a poll quite like this. I myself would have to choose option 8 because I play an ISBI-type challenge with several families.
I like to build and make sims and I've played my simself in rotation which I ended up preferring, I really only turn off free will when I'm trying to get a picture or even when I need to kill a sim a certain way and can't have them running off lol. I have tried some challenges too sometimes I'll do this all at once and keep multiple saves.