Do you prefer Alpha or Maxis Match CC? (Or a combo)?

The only problem with alpha is that it has completely ruined my tolerance for MM! MM just looks completely cartoony to me now, and it's not a look I ever liked. One of the reasons it took me so long to start playing The Sims in the first place was that I didn't think the game looked realistic enough for me to find it entertaining. I don't and have never played any other computer games, so I have zero tolerance for anything that looks like it's trying to imitate reality in a half-assed way (not that The Sims is trying to do that at all, I know, but initially that was how the style of it came across to me). Therefore I've had to pretty much convert the entire contents of my Sims' houses, as well as my Sims themselves, to alpha CC only. Then again, alpha CC is the only reason I'm still playing the game after so long! It's the only thing that still really excites me about TS4 - and it still gets me to play in live mode too because there's nothing better than seeing those amazingly crafted alpha objects come to life! I agree that MM and alpha do clash, but I much, much prefer my game realistic. My Sims too all have natural-looking skins and features. I don't even look at the clothes the game provides us with anymore. It is a bit of a shame because I was excited about the Eco Living and Nifty Knitting packs but ended up removing every piece of furniture that came with them - just looked ridiculous beside the rest of the furniture in the house. But just after Nifty Knitting came out, one of my favourite alpha creators sent me a whole lot of alpha knitting stuff as well as a good choice of rocking chairs, so I wasn't complaining. It made me realise too that there really is enough alpha cc out there to enable players to use only alpha content if they want to. A big part of my game is the constant search for new and amazing alpha CC and the top creators out there never disappoint! I'm forever in awe of those digital artists who create furniture, objects and even whole rooms that look like pics taken from the inside of a real house. TS4 is my living dollhouse and I like it to look as real as possible! :)