*unlurks*
I just downloaded the game today and while it's fun to play with I wouldn't shell out $50 for it. I hate the fact that they have very few items in the game and that you can only play one house. I also had a weird bug with one of my houses in which if a kid stepped outside during the night the cops would show up. WTF? She's right next to the door and in her yard, leave her alone!
My (probably very wrong but please don‘t shatter my hopes) theory is that EA knew that they'd be pirated and so made it that you'd get half the content after registering the game.