Just wanna say, if you need a PHP Framework like CakePHP, you are not a good coder in my book. I don't care what people think, or what recruiters want. PHP Frameworks are for lazy and/or incompetent coders IMHO.
Just my 2 cents...
You do know that SMF itself is a framework right?, granted, in a general aproach.
Sure all frameworks has this side effect of creating a very unique type of coders, those who know how to use that framework but have no idea why it works that way, but guess what, so does SMF

For someone who has just beginning to code, using a framework may not be the best way to start/use (yes, this includes SMF too), mostly because you will be quite spoiled by the framework itself and that will prove to be counterproductive at later stages, that is, if you ever decide to keep progressing.
For someone who knows the whats, whys, hows and whens of a framework, it becomes a fantastic tool.
I've been saying this for 3 years now, so glad no one ever reads my blog

Oh! as for been lazy, damn right I'm lazy, I want to be as productive as possible with as less effort as possible...