I feel that the open workplace expansions are the antithesis of what the Sims is supposed to be

This definitely is a valid argument. I agree that the checklist items can be arbitrary and repetitive. I didn't like that gameplay either, but for different reasons for me. I tried open workplace careers and I found it to be more work for me than the sim. It became mundane and I found I wasn't getting anything out of it. Maybe it would be ideal to be paid per hour spent on the computer or in the garden, etc? This way you get out of it what you put in; also, it is not all or nothing.