There's a mod for your second annoyance
http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=464612

Have to admit I'm on the opposite bandwagon there. In addition to it being creepy, I guess I like to pretend my sims do everything out of their own free will. Kinda makes you remember reality when a sim looks up at you with a "What now boss?" expression on their face.

I like Sims looking at me every now and then - but I once had a Sim that just did not stop. If I turned the camera, the Sim would turn as well just to keep looking at me. That creeped me out.

Yike! I don't mind the complaining look they give when they don't want to do something you've told them to do, but that long sustained stare is unnerving. Carooh, I take it you killed that sim off quickly before he could devise a way to get out and get to you.

Well, sweet dreams everybody!

Some time the poking in the Sims stomach can be funny other times not so funny, Sims will walk up to the Sims and do this and most of the time their own body is not in good shape.
And the "Nanny" seem to always want to poke someone in the stomach, and she really got some nerves with her old self when she is out of shape.

I always find it amusing that when a parent sends their teen off to college, most of the time the parent rolls the want to go on vacation. Its like they're saying "I need a vacation after raising that kid."

I just "LOVE" Mrs. Crumplebottom what would the game be without that "hag" of a women, she's always crack me up with her legal weapon "the bag."
I know she get on some players nerves by disturbing date times, but you really have to forgive her, you all should know by now that Mrs.C is a bit Senile / dementia. forgiveness is in order.

Another Sims who can be so funny is the "Slob" he or she seem to like to come around when my Sims are out on dates or with family eating at a restaurant.
Then here comes the slob who always seem to be dress in his or her PJ sitting near by with their behaviors of farting, spitting, belching, and sloppy eating.

To my surprise I once had a Sims get up and move away from the slob and was angry, but then again that Sims was an extremely neat Sims who hated the slob bad behaviors, that neat Sims was acting like this >
The "slob" did give a care.

I remember dropping my kid off at college. I cried all the way out of town. By the time I hit the highway, though, I was smiling, thinking of ALL the freedom I had just been given.