ColonelCrockett: In my opinion chess is not only thinking more and more moves forward ... you will get to a limes soon (of course it is position-dependent)
Look, the difference in thinking moves forward between better players and not so well players is not so big ... decisive is the ability estimating the "virtual" positions correctly.
And of course, sometimes the principles of the opening, the structure of the middlegame and so on are deep anchored in your brain when you are better .., there are typical movements and so on. So sometimes I am not really "thinking" in moves, only looking if there is some danger to me and continuing the plan.
Note: Getting 2100 is relatively easy here. I got this level soon - look at my BKR graph. But then a stagnation occured and I studied something, preparing much and so on ... now I have more than 2300, but this says nothing. Decisive will it be, if i can held my level.