You just forget how much time you can spend on this game.
Sims 2 was a huge just from Sims 1, now there are some parts of Sims 2 that have been removed which i kind of missed, but they have replaced them with new Sims 3 perks, but some of the things i miss...
Can't call in sick for work
Wall mounted phones
Electric Guitars & Pianos
As you can see not much, the extra content replacing these in Sims 3 has more than made up for the lacking items, Cars, Bicycles, more jobs, Fishing, lifetime wishes, all of these things make your life worth living, oh an the ability to stop time. Construction and purchasing having changed much with the exception of the objects being divided into genre, which could be open to debate as to where things belong, but it's hardly frustrating, with an online shop for you to upload/download customized characters, houses, objects etc... there has of distractions in this game for you to play 2-3 hours without noticing, Best in the series by a mile, can they out do themselves for Sims 4?