SMAutoSeoUrls depends on SMPages being installed and enabled for URL Rewriting to be enabled
URL Rewriting is used by SMPages, Subsites, SMShop, and SMLogin (/Admin).
It should either be independent from SMPages, or at least not require SMPages to be enabled for URL Rewriting to be enabled. SMAutoSeoUrls also has knowledge about SMMenu which allows it to convert menu links with URL parameters to SEO friendly links instead.
In addition the htaccess template should probably be moved from SMPages to SMAutoSeoUrls in case SMPages is not installed.
Bottom line: SMAutoSeoUrls should work without SMPages being installed.
It would also make sense to be able to "ask" SMEnvironment whether URL Rewriting is enabled or not - something like: SMEnvironment::GetUrlRewritingEnabled(). However, make sure SMEnvironment does not depend on SMAutoSeoUrls in any way ! It may be necessary to have 'base' expose functionality necessary to "install" URL Rewriting (.htaccess).