We used it in the first house we built in 1988. I would use it for crown molding but not for door trim or base molding.

It did not hold up well. Easily damaged by kids and vacuum.

We used painted poplar in the house we live in now which we built in 2005.

The smoothness may also just have been related to the painter's prep work/quality control. e.g. a spray finish will look very smooth, almost like plastic/lacquer depending on the type of paint.