I don't think that they are smart for choosing Islam, but that is my own opinion. They may be smart for other reasons, but it depends on the individual. There are idiots in all religions, and there are smart people in all of them too (maybe not in the case of the Westboro Baptist Church). I seriously believe it depends on the person, whichever religion they feel offers them the proper road to salvation is what they should choose. Yes, there might be material gains, but everyone has to chance to gain those regardless of religion.

It's often been said that the intelligent are often the best at justifying their own delusions. I can testify to this as I spent the better part of my life devoutly religious, going to great lengths to justify it. If I weren't so intelligent I wouldn't have been able to reinforce my views with so much duct tape, string and chewing gum, that the poor support would be obvious.

In other words, the followers of Islam aren't much different, with the exception that many Islamic states have censored education systems or simply poor schools. So of course the average Muslim there would be ignorant, and blissfully unaware of how deceived they are.

It doesn't matter because all religions are equally naive in believing a higher power.

With Sharia Law, a person choosing that faith would not be smart because Sharia Law calls for the execution of homosexuals.