I played without mods for a long time but I now have a few that I can't live without. As for MCCOmmand Center it took me a long time to want to play with it and the first time I put it in was a complete disaster that killed my save game at the time. But I missed story progression enough that I tried it again and I've had it in my game for almost a year now and think I'm maybe kind of/sort of getting the hang of it lol. Enough to start contemplating trying to do a Sims 2 Style Rotational styled BACC save in my game.
That said I feel if I have to I could go no Mods and still enjoy the game. It would be tough re-learning to get used to certain things again but I do think that at the end of the day Sims 4 IS actually playable without them.
I know that you have other reasons for not wanting to use it and they are completely valid MCCC is not for everyone (no matter how much some people cheerlead it in the community). But just so you're aware there is a setting that will make it so it won't change married names on you if you don't want it to. I can go in and tell you how if you'd like.