For me it varies from event to event. I want to build a magic campus from this event, so I am buying up the buildings. Some are not great, but the prices are not as bad as some events. It helps having reached a level of multiplier that I can generate enough donuts to do this. I do find that I hesitate to buy anything that does not have multiplier, or come with a character, excepting things like the Bad Dream House which just looks so cool when lit up.
I agree we get next to nothing that generates income free anymore, that seemed to stop when spooky house farms appeared and EA realized we were crafting tons of income generators.
I don't think the scale, colours, lack of quality control etc on standalones will ever get fixed, we can't get the street sweeper off the dirt. I find now I have to decide early in an event if I like the theme or not, and if I do I bite the bullet and spend.
