Is there a point in caring about the game?

[Jojoya]

The sense of discovery is just completely gone now from all the game's content, and it's not just SE's fault but also because the community has grown so reliant on third party tools. There is a counter to this and it's to produce innovative content that people don't know how to optimize yet. But that's probably something you can't expect from SE.

Or players could break their habit of immediately going to the outside tools/guides, choosing to discover the new content through their own experience instead.

I doubt any game developer is going to be able to come up with innovative systems that stymie the third party tools for more than a brief period at release. What's created by code can be changed/revealed by someone writing additional code.

I'd also say it's not SE's fault that players have become so reliant on third party tools. It's a habit they've usually brought with them from other games they've played.

IF they don't like the way it's impacted game experience, then it's up to them to move away from using the third party tools and content creator guides.

Yeah, to play other games while being subbed. Devs never offered us to unsub, just very generously suggested taking a break while still paying.

I have yet to see them ask any player to keep paying while they're on a long break.

That's the player's choice to keep paying, not a request of SE. And most of the time, it's because they're too obsessed with owning a house they wouldn't be using but are too selfish to give it up so an active player would get a chance to own a house.

But it's up to them if they think the house is worth the $90 or however much they'll be paying to keep it while they aren't playing the game.