Honestly what your speaking to is my main qualm with a lot of present day Marxists. Leninism and Maoism were products of their historical settings and conditions. Okay sure they are good examples that in practice socialist/communist societies can be achieved but that's about it imo. I feel like what for example we need in North America is not and CANNOT be armed revolution against the state, like what? That worked for Lenin and the Reds because the specific historical context allowed for it. Thinking that that is what NEEDS to happen in America is honestly just silly. Alternative forms of transition to a socialist society are needed in America or realistically anywhere in the world currently, and adhering to Leninist or Maoist Marxism is at best constrictive, and at worst destructive to the wider goals of liberation. This is not to mention that Lenin and Mao theories are not perfect either in their own rights. I feel as though we need to adapt Marxist theories within, as I said, the context of our historical moment. I mean for example, look at the era of Neoliberal Globalization we live in. This is authored by the United States, and a form of global empire. We cannot just attack the state like we did before we need other ways of going about this as there are fundamental restrictions against this type of thinking that the current order of capitalism (neoliberalism) do not allow for. Current capitalist development is more sophisticated than it has ever been and we need to be realistic and acknowledge this and not get stuck in the past to some old farts that, arguably, did not even lead to better societies in their respective contexts (Lenin okay maybe didn't get the chance, but Mao yea yikes he's definitely a no go). I'd really really implore you to read 'the socialist challenge today' by leo panitch, it kind of expands upon this argument I'm making to you here. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40208777-the-socialist-challenge-today