I don't exactly disagree, but that hardly counters my assertion that ideological Communism isn't something that has ever been successfully implemented on a substantial scale.

In the end it's all about centralizes power, whether that is political, social, or financial. That is why I support left-libertarianism. Every intervention by the government in free markets should be considered primarily in light of how it impacts the balance of power. That includes a robust safety net and universal healthcare, as both shift power to individuals and away from wealth.

We also need to completely revisit the concept of corporations and rework them into something that better serves the interests of everyone.

Marxist-leninism is literally the base from which most communist theory exists. Most communists are some flavor or branch of ML, because it gets the goods.

You can't be a communist and reject all experiments at communism as "not real communism"

Russia evolved into fascism.

Yeah, after it was couped by US backed traitors and the US enforced fascism.

China is absolutely state capitalist.

Why is their industrial output not falling as they're firmly in the middle income country bracket then?

(If you can't understand the contradiction you haven't read enough theory about imperialism and neo-imperialism)

North Korea 100% a dictatorial nepo-state.

Yeah, and they make all the grandpas push the one train whenever it breaks down. The rats eat the children and the children eat the rats. /s

Have you actually looked at the government structure of the DPRK? You seem to be parroting a lot of state department propaganda for someone speaking with authority on what "real" communism is.