I wasn't super happy with the Sims 4 not being open world, I love the Sims 4 and I recognize why there isn't an open world. My only problem with it is that my Sims just don't get out of the house often.
I agree with this, I'm currently running a Sims 3 legacy challenge and I noticed how much more fun toddlers were in the sims 3 than 4. IMO, toddlers were made to be more cute in the Sims 4.