I love when villagers talk about their old towns. Gives them a sense of history that I really enjoy. The only thing that bothers me is when it's a town named Butt or Tool or something just flat out distasteful.
I do prefer to get an original villager when I'm adopting them. Think to me it just feels like I'm getting them new and they have no history. So opposite reasons to why you prefer them unoriginal but once I move them in I don't mind what furniture they change or anything. I'm funny about them changing shirts....not sure why really....so all mine still have their original shirt and probably catchphrase too. But they're very loved