When I used Smart Connect, it was elegant and worked. If it doesn't work, you can blame the client... if they want all the glory, they should take all the blame. Although AiMesh may have been rough and user placement of nodes and signal path play some role. But my main SC complaint has been Auto channels, and then spamming the Log... changing channels all of the time is not elegant and it does disrupt wireless clients.
So for me, it's worth trying same SSIDs again WITH fixed channels. If my clients behave... connect to the better band when they should... they may roam better, too, and my WiFi will look very fashionable to my discriminating neighbors, the most important reason... everything is 99% fashion... if you don't look good, why bother.
The Orbis around here use same SSIDs... AiMesh needs to keep up with the Orbis!
OE