The creative aspect, the methods to playing the game, and so many details demand a lot of attention and time. That's a flaw to video games. They became so involving that, for many, they are too involving.
You know what I'd like from the next version of "Animal Crossing: New Leaf"? I'd like some leeway into one's mayor (and I like the mayoral concept) of starting a town with three Public Works Projects given him/her. I'd like there to be zoning so that, if there are still four humans and ten villagers allotted, the mayor can determine lot locations that may be taken. So you can control the environment. And then, after arriving with three established villagers greeting the brand-new mayor, I'd like for the mayor to be able to select two villagers from a menu screen. (Go ahead and require that they be of different genders. That they would fall into different categories of personality types not yet among the established villagers. Given they're different genders, that makes this even easier.)
You made the right choice for yourself.