I'll chime in my opinion here...I'm agreeing with Pam on this subject. I have played sims since the franchise started putting out the original sims. I have all eps, sps for sims 1 and 2. This game is simply the most awesome game out there for me, with the exception of sim cities, 2-4 and caesars' games.
I do have to admit that once another series started, after sims 1 came sims 2 and their 3D, I never went back to the previous one. I looked back and saw all the money I had spent on all these games and thought good lord, now what am I going to do with these. But I figured, the sims 1 ran for several years, then sims 2 for 4 years, and even though I had spent maybe upwards of $300-$400 altogether, that's not a lot of money over 10 years worth of entertainment. I am an RN and used to work critical care, which is kinda stressful. When I had the time, I could dive into the sims and I could relax and enjoy my self and it worked to help take some of the pressure off. Now that I am semi-retired due to health issues, I find the same, the sims is a great pressure release.
I figured the sp were nice little packs of objects we can get while waiting for that next "big" ep with all new options and gameplay. Personally, I don't have a problem with spending $20 for things for my simmies to make them, and me, happier. I am shocked at how much overseas players have to pay, which is not fair at all.
Sorry to say this but I really like the store. I like the fact that we get to pick the individual object to put in our game without getting stuff we'll probably never use. Like Pam says, if this small amount of money will help keep EA making packs, so be it. Plus Pam, I learned to type on a manual with covers on the keys also.