to me, this does two different things — improves game dynamics, and provides an alternate hard mode. I'd like to get the effects that better fit the first, without getting the effects that better fit the second.

to me, those are:

• wealth counter/residential tooltips
  
• fire spread — there actually is a community mod just for this
  
• flooding disaster
  
• less despawning traffic — see no despawn mod
  
• no citizen despawn (is this the same underlying mechanic?)
  
• workers need to work — no calling in sick to avoid traffic
  
• life span increase - see Slow Citizen Aging Configurable