I don't know if these things have been suggested before (sorry for not reading everything, but the thread is so long...):

1) My family has a pet cat. They also have a sandbox. They do not seem to have a litterbox for the cat.... I can't help but see a bad, or at least yucky, situation right there . Kids play in that sandbox you know . Maybe put a litterbox in the store with the varied items?

2) There are upgrades for the working spaces (kitchen, shed-thing, and office), but I'd like to be able to see the livingroom and the bedroom and such change too, get upgraded, or at least maybe be able to change the wallpaper, the furniture, etc.