Are you sure the link to the mesh still works?  It didn't work when I tried it...

maybe AL is on DVD because Maxis didn't want to spend money to make two or three CDs.  Maxis must assume that nearly everyone has a DVD player in their computer these days.

My sister is physicked about Sims 3, but I'm not so crazy about having to start over with no custom content.  If i ever did decide to load it on my computer, if would depend if the inSimenator and the inTeen would be made compatible...as those are - without a doubt - two of my favorite mods.  Along with the mod that allows me to have more than eight sims on the lot