The standard model of cosmology, LCDM, is built upon precise phenomenological hypotheses on how the early, intermediate, and late-time Universes behave. The Cosmic Microwave Background, combined with multiple sets of optical data available from astronomical observatories, can constrain the six free parameters of LCDM; comparing these constraints has unveiled multiple tensions. Among these tensions is the S8 discrepancy, which may indicate that the Cosmological Constant does not adequately describe the late-time cosmic acceleration. A clear demonstration that late-time Dark Energy is not the cosmological constant would have profound implications for our understanding of nature’s primary forms of energy. On the other hand, the tension in the values of the Hubble constant points towards LCDM requiring changes in the early cosmos, perhaps an early Dark Energy component. In this talk, we review the status of the Smooth Paradigm of Cosmic Acceleration, given recent observational results. We will revisit whether time changes in the linear growth factor can alleviate the S8 tensions, as the Smooth Paradigm predicts only such changes. Finally, we will glance at our efforts to advance inferences involving optical lensing and clustering in photometric surveys as probes of Dark Energy beyond the Smooth Paradigm, fulfilling their potential as robust laboratories for testing new physics.