So, you made me think that as much as I hate actually running a restaurant, I need my merchants to build at least one, or even two, for the other sims to enjoy on dates. However, I have a rule in my BARQC that merchants can sell their businesses to the community, so I'll probably build up the restaurant, and once I'm sure it runs reasonably well, without foot stomping, then I'll sell to the community, and the merchants get the money to spend on something else. Like a bookstore! I never thought of that! Awesome!
As for the evil witches, there's not much I can do to keep them away from stores, but for venues, I just don't sell them tickets. I'll sell to anyone else, but not to them. And if they do buy a ticket, anyway, then, I make sure that I invite them to DO THINGS as soon as possible, preferably something that will keep them occupied for a long time, like fishing or playing poker, so that they get distracted from the spell. Also, I love having good witches around to beautify the lot, whenever they cast that spell, as the beautify lot spell actually gets rid of the roaches, as well as the rain!
I can't bear the thought of getting rid of my community witches, though! Even the evil ones! I love the witchery in Sims 2.
Yeah, I hear you on the talent badges. I had an employee I wanted to train up to be a manager (she had gold stocking badge), so I had her earn flower arranging, and then thought, "D'oh!" Because as a manager, she'd be in charge of glad-handing the customers, and that means sales badge, and oops! So now she's got three gold badges, and is so overpaid, and I finally realized that I HATE THAT WOMAN, because every time my OWNER sends someone on a break, so they can drink some coffee (their only need, with all the snapdragons), she keeps going back to send them back to work! I HATE HER. I'll probably fire her, next rotation. And if I find anyone with good styling, I'm totally going to open a salon. Great on the cashier, though! that's the slowest badge to get, I think, but also the one that annoys the customers the most, if it's lacking.
Congrats on the success!