My understanding is that the set you grew up with still exists--looks like it's the "themed kits" part of the "bricks and more" section, rather than in the City section--the City appears to be a separate themed kit. (Is this the one you're talking about? I didn't grow up playing with Legos so I'm can't be sure.)

But yeah, I agree--if Lego Friends was the only way to get bakers and gardens into Lego play, that would be a really big problem.