I've often seen it mentioned that while SEM is generally used in relation to non-experimental designs it can be used in relation to experimental designs too. For example, Kline (2016) writes that
Most applications of SEM are in nonexperimental designs, but data from experimental or quasi-experimental designs can be analyzed, too. (p. 10)
I understand that a major point of SEM is to in some sense disconfirm causal hypotheses, and that with an experimental design one might be able to make causal inferences much more simply.
However, I am wondering under what circumstances it does, and does not, make sense to apply SEM to experimental designs. Are there rules of thumb that can tell me when applying SEM to an experimental design might be more or less advantageous?
Kline, R. B. (2016). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. Guilford publications.