I have had it for quite awhile now, and I really like it. Personally, I like it much more than University. University might have added more in terms of gameplay, but I just didn't have as much fun sending Sims to college and making them trudge through eight semesters.
NOTE: "Spoilers" are past this, revealing things that might be considered "easter eggs" or things you might have wanted to figure out yourself, so be warned!
Hot Date was a favorite of mine in TS1, though, maybe because it was the first time they could leave the lot, and I still remember my excitement the first time I sent a Sim downtown.
Nightlife has vampires, but I haven't used them yet, because they can bite anyone in the neighborhood once you get them started, or bite Mrs. Crumplebottom and mess up your game.
Yes, more bugs... I admire you for waiting for a University patch. I thought about doing that, and I really should have.
Dating is fun, but it's really easy. The first date I sent a Sim on got a score of great, and from then on, they've all been dream dates. I love having restaurants again, finally. The dining is okay, but I was a little bit disappointed at some of the animations.
The furious state is funny at first, but it can be really really frustrating after awhile. It happens for the stupidest things some times, for example, a family had twins and the father got mad at his baby boy. Honestly, he had "furious" with his own child! I don't know why, either. I also had a husband and wife become furious at one another, and I don't know how that happened, either. And when the Townies or Downtownies get furious, it takes forever for it to go away, and they keep walking past and kicking over the trash can, stealing the newspaper, etc. I have to call the exterminator all the time.
This also means that Romance Sims have a much harder time keeping their lovers straight. I can't really send them downtown at all on dates if they have very many lovers. There are a few Sims in my neighborhood that seem to always show up downtown, no matter what lot I go to.
I do like the attraction system, though, and the roses, etc that they leave for good dates are so sweet.
And of course the cars are nice, and provide a new place for woohoo. lol
Some of the best things about it are the smaller things, such as the way you can have an inventory, the way that you can visit other lots without having to go to the neighborhood view, seeing other lots from your lot, etc.
So I think it's a really great game, and one that most people will enjoy. I've heard complaints that it doesn't add enough to the gameplay, but I think it's well worth the $35 anyway. For the hours of entertainment I get out of it, it is definitely worth the money!
There are bugs, though, and it didn't fix University bugs.
So we're all still waiting on a patch. Hopefully, it won't be too much longer.
Wow, this was a long post of mine!