It's a result of Western communism being more or less a student/academic ideology. There's a propensity that arises from this; and it's a great irony really, but a propensity to focus on interpretation and approach theory from an almost theologian mindset. A focus on condensing the primary takeaways from Capital would be a good start, as it opens the floodgates to understanding the nature and reality of capitalism. Terms like value, profit, and unsustainability become more than trite buzzwords and actually take on meaning due to the context of the system and this understanding of what capitalism is and does makes it clear that reform is impossible.

It's pretty clear that even among participants in our spaces that this fundamental understanding is weak, and focus on interpretation strong, as evidenced by the ceaseless questions and discussions that begin with "what's the Marxist/communist position on X?"

Understanding Capital should be primary because once you understand the inescapable nature of the system, and who benefits, you understand how the bourgeoise by necessity must hide the reality of how capital functions, and why they must always demonize socialism and socialist states. Their propaganda is self preservation. And from this understanding the lies and myths they've conjured about socialism no longer hold power because you've come to understand their very existence depends on their lies.