The way I see it those investing in methods enough to be using SEM acknowledge the limitations and with enough education (which is really pumping even 3 years ago when i was in a lab) ways of applying it can definitely be shifted imo. When I was taught it they definitely said use a metric fuck ton of salt lmao.

I think shifting to a Hierarchical linear approach will will also be necessary as many of these things are nested. tbh i haven’t had enough advanced knowledge to know how the methods have been applied to together other than intra individual approaches in latent growth curves (i worked with them independently and probably a rather surface level tbh) you are much more knowledgeable though than me so Im sure your skepticism and lack of optimism is very warranted