I agree that each iteration of the sims should bring something new to the table but also include features of previous games. The sims 4 base game imho should have been able to do everything the Sims 3 base game did but added something to it. The Development team should be looking at what made sims games fun in the past and ask themselves "How did 1 2 and 3 do this and how can I make this better?" That's what any sequel/new version of a game should do.
As for your rabbit hole argument, I'm not sure how some jobs would transfer to an active career all that well, Politician yes. Diver, yes. Astronaut would absolutely be an interesting active career(I imagine it would kind of be something like GTW scientists), but there are some such as Tech Guru I'm not sure would transfer to Active careers in a meaningful way especially at the higher ranks, since a Computer Programmer pretty much sits and types all day. Same with the higher ranking Business levels, the CEO will sit in an office and do what? Answer the phone and maybe cheat on their spouse with the secretary? ( < That is a bad tv based joke dont take it too seriously.)
Open world I could give or take, I can understand why they left it out this time, since originally Sims 4 was supposed to be online MMO type thing I guess. It took a while to get used to, but in the end so long as there is indepth game play and interesting sims then I'm fine with a closed world. I love Sims 2 or its depth and activities, even with its closed world. I love Sims 3 because I could go anywhere with my sim, I want to go collect that meteorite outside work? Or dive into the water to find special ocean life I went on an adventure with them. Do I want to explore this tomb and maybe be cursed by a mummy, do I want to fight a mummy? obviously. So I explore with them!
But sims 5 should absolutely strive for the best things that each game had to offer. Including an open world as well as other things that made sims 1 2 3 and 4 great games.
