I am also dragging on my facilities. I always wonder if there is an "optimal" order for them. Like, should I do the restaurant first so more tables are unlocked for the department store restaurant, etc etc. Right now I'm designing a restaurant for Canberra (my girl!) so yes, repetitious design demands are thing I can relate to.
Also I am with you on ACNL. Personally, I flat out don't think it was quite as good as previous AC titles. The most fun I had in the game was probably that first summer of its release, and much of that fun was owed to forum shenanigans here. I still love the game, but I'm eager to see the next installment and its improvements. Meanwhile, I anticipate Fallout 4, which will probably be my last gaming hurrah before returning to school Winter 2016!