I had a post all ready to send and then the electricity went out, LOL so I will try again.
I think the problem in comparing sims 3 to sims 4 is that players are trying to compare apple to oranges; and as my psych instructor stated, there are no such thing as orples.
To accurately compare the two games, you have to look at just the vanilla games, the base games; not include any of the expansion packs. You can't state how much better sims 3 is with World Adventure, Pets, Supernatural, Seasons or any other expansion packs. The extra things such as store worlds and stuff that could be purchased to add to the games also are a factor that needs to be eliminated when comparing the two games. Sims 4 is new and doesn't have all of those expansion packs yet.
I bought sims 3 after several expansions packs (bought after Pets had been released and before Supernatural was available) and some of the store worlds had come out, so there was a lot for me to chose from and have the fun stuff that many didn't have at the start of the game. That will make it hard for me to compare, as I bought my sims 3 with WA and Riverview, along with Pets.
I know that there are one or two expansion packs and some other stuff, but if you want to compare them, match up just the base games.
I'm a little concerned as I like the open world aspect of sims 3, of how we can chose to interact with other sims if we want to or not. Yet it can be good that the sims are more independent. Pluses and minuses are in both games.
I am still reading about sims 4 and if I can get a new computer that can run the game, and allow me to also play the sims 3 games, I will buy sims 4. I am going to give it the benefit of the doubt and go with that over time there will be more changes, additions, expansion packs, store worlds and stuff such that will add to the enjoyment of the game.
I can't state either way yet, of course, as I don't have the game, but I do plan to try and think as if I have only the base game of sims 3 to compare sims 4 to. If I couldn't go to China to get the books, gems and metals to have some ready money, collect them to buy a nicer home. If I didn't have Seasons to have the wild flowers to pick for money and all kind of opportunities to earn points to get rewards.
So, I am going to try to compare apple to apples, oranges to oranges and remember that there is no such fruit, at least yet, called orples.