As far as I can tell, the default templates didn't change one whit, nor did the blending programming (without cheats turning it off); I still end up with sim kids just as horrifying as before if I'm not careful about who I mate or if I'm not careful with how I put together features when making sims. Again, I think people are seeing identicalness in sims where it didn't actually exist, because the parents either didn't have extreme enough features to lend or the children all got the same extreme features, and the less extreme differences simply do not show up until a child is older. Also, sometimes folks just aren't good at seeing subtle differences in faces. I've noticed a distinct difference in how much difference someone with no art training whatsoever notices compared to someone with a bit of it (and I'm not necessarily talking formal training, just 'looking at people and trying to draw them' training).
Blahblahblah, it's 2 in the morning and I should be in bed.