Never tried four myself and really have no desire to do so. Currently hooked on Animal Crossing but keep visiting the forum to get a sim fix until I am ready to go back to my game. Shouldn't be long because I find myself thinking of my sims and getting ideas of who to make next as I stream shows :)
I know what you mean sims four seemed like too much of a step back for me, I still get into my month long sims bouts though with 3. I have been playing with my sims 3 version of strange town.