I'm pretty much the same as this.
The first and only Sims I've really played was the first one, when it was ported for the PS2. When I first got it I played it for about 12 hours straight.
The replay value for me comes from the two player mode, I have a couple of friends who I play with every few months when we're just in the mood to relax for the evening. I find it quite an easy going, light hearted game to play.