This is going to be a long post so dont read it if you get bored easily...
Ok. I agree with weather, night and day, and seasons. Just like real life, but maybe natural disasters too, these things can happen. What about the plants and trees, it doesn't neccessarily have to be "island-ish" with palm trees and bananas. VV3 could be rainforest with ferns, ponds and frogs. There must be a water source so maybe a giant pond in the middle that they can decorate. Instead of fishing, the villagers could grow water plants like seaweed, watercress, or water chestnuts. That way they wouldn't have to bother about watering them, just planting and harvesting. I also think that the water could be a hot spring. Maybe caused by a volcano on the island. If the villagers find civilised objects, they could create unique and amusing purposes for them. I think families is a great idea. It might be hard if each villager only has one mate though, because if you are stuck with only a male and female left, and one or both is married, the tribe is lost.
I disagree with picking the gender of the baby. Nature is full of suprises, and the villagers aren't capable of choosing.
I don't know if religion is such a good idea, it may offend people who play the game. I think pets is a good idea, but I have to say no to the farm animals.
Farm animals live in the country, so how on earth would they get on a tropical island!!? Collecting bird eggs is a good idea i think, instead of chickens. Because birds are everywhere. As somebody previously suggested, they could be coloured, patterned magic or healing. Instead of strange herbs you could have strange fruit bushes. The village farmers could make juice or cordial by squeezing the fruit and it could have the same basic effects as the stews in vv2. Maybe berries could make a sort of dye/paint substance so that villagers can draw (that would be another skill, ART).It would be cool to change the hairstyle of villagers and maybe the color because I was stuck with a bunch of blondes in vv2 and no turning back.
I love the tribal music, I can't get it out of my head once its in...lol.
Villagers don't start off that smart, send them to school at a cost of 50 tech points a day to get their skill up.
Thats my ideas for the day, I can't wait till vv3 comes out and I hope the best for everyone submitting all the great ideas and especially the programmers designing the game. My brain will be charging tonight so hopefully I can post something tomorrow.