However, the point I tried to make in my post, is that SM problems are far more challenging than writing out a formal proof.
Most people remember the proofs being the most challenging part of geometry.
However, after working with the SM program, I find that solving the problems require that same deductive reasoning needed to prove a theorem. Students have to remember all the theorems and postulates, even those presented weeks before. The only number laws that are not emphasized much, are the obvious ones like the reflexive property, and the transitive property. And the student does not know which theorems are going to be needed to solve a problem. That's what makes SM problems much more challenging than simply writing out a formal proof.