This has been a really helpful forum. I am a novice - very keen in putting in the hours and hoping to really improve my game. I happened upon Smirnov's courses and was put off by 1.) the voice 2.) the advertising hype 3.) the cost 4.) the ever increasing number of his products - it just has a the feel of a sham (if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, well ... ). The most interesting thing for me though is this: Chess.com would be the perfect place to demonstrate the wonders of such a course. We could look back over the stats of his students (many of whom must be here) and SEE the improvement after them having done his course. However, that seems not to be the case. Looking at the stats of those that have messaged me recommending the course or even those on this forum who are suggesting how great it is - I cannot find a single case of a notable improvement in their ratings on chess.com. I have no doubt that I would learn something from Smirnov but I'm with the cherry catchers and wafflemasters above - If it sounds too good to be true - It probably is. I'll pass on Igor and go back to Silman.
But have you checked their FIDE rating?
I studied the video courses: "Your Winning Plan" and "Winning the Middlegame". They focus on thinking, planning (based on pawn structures, forcing moves and centralization), analysing, how to find candidate moves and how to select among them. I have watched the courses several times and they "spell it out for you". Having read some of the best books on middlegame play, that did not spell out a clear and simple algorithm for middlegame play. Now I know how and when to "use" a weakness, how and when to "create" a weakness, how and when to centralize a piece and more. I think these courses are among the best that I ever saw. I don't say they are the holy grail. But they gave me a serious understanding and fundament to continue studying the thinking process in chess. Now I am reading Pump Up Your Rating, A. Smith and Chess Strategy for Club Players, Grooten, that also has focus on the thinking process and it's importance. And I am convinced, as said in the video course, that chess is all about the ability to think, more than a having a huge amount knowledge. So one should practice with the ability to think and analyse in the same way you practice with tactics