Design, storytelling, filmmaking, management, silliness, downloads... so many ways to play, watch out for the addiction!
EA game really knows how to keep your interest sustained year after year. You think you've seen it all and oops, your Sim does something completely unexpected! (Free will is one of the most interesting part of the game: you watch your Sims act on their own).
Now, if you think it is all about families and baby raising, the Sims are partly this, but can be so other things. What about an alien invasion over the lands or ghost hunting? Sims contains a lot of whimsical elements that makes it really interesting (meteorites for example or urns kicking).
Should you play the Sims? If you can control yourself, definitely. If not, well, better try something else because this is just... addictive.
Sho Flee!