"It takes INSANELY long to rake leaves... I have to say I don't put trees on my lot because I just can't tolerate having to rake all of them and leaving them just messes with my perfectionism."
I just pictured you here at my home and had to laugh. We have eight trees in our yard. Not only do we have lots of leaves, the neighbors leaves get blown into our yard.
When we moved into our home, no trees! I took care of that fast, I LOVE trees. Hubby does get the first few leaves that drop, but at the end, he just mulches them for the grass. The stragglers are just left on the ground. In spring, when it is time to cut grass, they just get mulched up. He doesn't have to rake, though. He sucks them up and fills up bags.
My sims just have one day till spring happening, so I get to find out what happens to the leaves; have lots of them also and didn't rake any of them. Kids did for a wish, but only until wish was fulfilled.