I'm a big fan of career mode. But you're right about the rubber banding or 'Catch-up Logic' as EA call it. Makes beating lower leage teams harder than Barcelona lol
My main concern is the move to the Frostbite engine. The last EA Sports game I played that made this move was Rory McIlroy PGA Tour. It looked prettier but the game was significantly downscaled in game mode options and number of courses/golfers to accomidate it.
The career mode (usually the best bit of Pga/Tiger woods games) was scaled down and simplified to the point of it being incredibly boring.
Just hope FIFA doesn't go the same way.