Sims 3 is better for free-will stuff. Sims 3 free will can do almost everything a player can- given time Sims will move in with each other and shit. Big stuff will ask the player for confirmation, but it'll ask you without needing much nudging. Even on full free will, Sims 2 ends up with characters starving, peeing, and falling asleep in their own pee while their homework goes undone.
I am so sad. I don't want to estimate how much time i've spent on The Sims, but i would not be surprised if it was over double my 700~ hours on TF2.
If you like this sort of thing- full free will ramblings- check out
Alice And Kev. It's more aimed at being bittersweet than funny, but well worth a read.