I like some of the features of Inteen but I really don't want them all plus I'd like to use some of the other stuff that isn't really compatible with it.  What I'd like to retain is:
Teen woo-hoo including with adults (and possibly elders)
Teens can get preggers (and if possible still able to go to Uni whilst up the duff or with sprogs)
Teens retain relationships with others on transition to adult
Chance of pregnancy on any woo-hoo
Some sort of birth control (and maybe fertility treatment)

Any suggestions for a set of hacks I can use to replicate this so I can delete Inteen? 

Thanks

Thanks for the explanation of the empty and fixed neighbourhoods.

Do I make a file called SPObjects.package read only as well?

This is all very helpful, Thanks.  I had worked some things out already and yes, I had spotted the deleting/customising townies tutorial - I put it on my "things to do when I'm feeling a bit more confident list" - I tend to find every fifth word of any computer related instructions incomprehensible (didn't understand the Deleted 2 instructions at all!).

On blank templates - are these only for some of the possible landscapes or all of them?

I've never actually played any of the main Maxi hoods, I made up my own right from the start (don't quite know why) but I am playing the standard downtown, bluewater, uni ones.  I'd rather not start a new hood just yet as I'm quite attached to the current one and I haven't really played very far in time (I have made far too many playable characters and its taking ages - I need to start killing the dull ones).  I will use the suggested advice when I do get round to a new hood.

Saw the thing about Groups.cache elsewhere on the site and did it (although who knows whether I will remember to do it again in the future - memory not what it once was!).

On the objects.package files - sorry to be dim but what am I looking for? went to the EA games directory - it has folders for each of the EPs but not sure what I'm looking for inside these.  Also when I've found them, how do I make them read-only?  Is it a standrad right-click function?

Thanks for these.  I shall go on a hack hunting expedition.

Luckily I have never used the Exchange or packaged a lot so that's knocks a couple of things off my "learn to do" list.

In the longer run I think I will have to start understanding things like SimPE - at some point I want to rid myself of the wretched Ottomas family (ugly! ugly! ugly!) and from reading the thread on this it looks like I might need it (and lot debugger, deleted 2 and other stuff I don't understand).  However they are not in the hood I'm currently playing so I think I can leave that a while.  There are also a few god-ugly townies that I would like to put out of their suffering.

I got given TS2 for Christmas and now have all the expansions and stuff packs (although I haven't played the most recent three much as they were omly installed recently).  I've never used downloads before (although I have now downloaded a small number of things from this site so I'll be trying them out soon).  I have spent the last couple of days reading various posts and threads on this site to try and further my understanding of the game (but I will obviously have failed to find the precise ones I need to answer my questions).  I found a lot of it very difficult to follow but I assume it will gradually get clearer as I read and play more.  Rather more worryingly I have discovered that the delightful makers of the game do not take the trouble to warn buyers about things that can make your game explode; I have just been reading a couple of threads dealing with deleting families from the bin, something which I have been doing without realising that it will cause problems.

I was wondering if someone with more experience than me (i.e. pretty much anyone) could help me with the following:

1.  Are there any other really important things I need to know that I must not / must do in order to protect the integrity of my game? It would be good if you could point me to any relevent topic threads.

2.  What are the most important tools/hacks that I would find useful to start with?  In particular to address significant issues rather than just slanting the game play slightly.

3.  What is SimPE?