Neighborhood Stories has made my game so weird and depressing

Not looking for help, just an observation. I hadn't played in a couple of years so I did a big update recently (I'm up to HSY). I started a family and was having a pretty good time until I started looking around the world.

Mansions have one occupant with seven almost identical dogs. Parents move out and become homeless, leaving their teen and child alone (who then acquire five almost identical dogs). Jacques Villarreal did this and is now a homeless barista.

That Volokov alpha dude moved in with Judith Ward, leaving his house empty with five dogs and they have filled Ward's mansion with dogs now. So he's rarely around in Moonwood Mill. Celene Lopez is my apartment neighbor in Conifer Station so there is no one to cure werewolves at the bar. All the fun roommate/household pairings are scattered around the worlds now and living singly in houses or apartments. The Fengs randomly died, which bummed me out because they're good connections for political and rich sims. i usually let them live forever because they're such an iconic part of City Living for me.

And the phone calls... "Should I have a baby? How about now? HOW ABOUT NOW? I know I just called two hours ago, but I'm thinking about trying for a baby?" Please leave me out of your weird procreation fetish. And then you visit these people and every house has three toddlers and all the dogs and most of the adults are gone. It's so eerie how it made every house very similar in my game.

I'm going to pull a Rick and Morty and grab my favorite sims and rapture them over to a new save. This world can burn.

ETA: I just want to say thanks to everyone who has responded to this. I know I'm behind but I really appreciate everyone's discussion in this thread. I thought this would get like three responses maybe. I know this is a "sodium" sub but I love the perspectives. Thank you. My ignorant ass has learned some things today.