I certified CMAS Three Star (PADI Divemaster/IDC equivalent) with the Russian CMAS agency at a dive club in the Middle East. It took me the better part of two years and a 100 plus dives but the training was very thorough and in depth. The 'course' was very club orientated and not like a commercial course at all (I have done some PADI courses to compare).
CMAS for me was very much like BSAC is in the UK, club based, focussed on good training and becoming an active member of the club. I would recommend CMAS or BSAC through a club environment to anyone.
If CMAS started offering course compressed into four or five days I suspect it would just go the way of PADI - teaching to a standard, time limit, and checklist with an BIG eye on the bottom line.
CMAS for me was good because it WAS NOT trying to be PADI but was trying to fulfil a different niche.
Cheers - P