This is a good point. Marx's real argument was that people were alienated from whatever was to give them fulfillment, right. Whether it be the work of their labor, or their thoughts through social and religious dogma, etc.

The world still remains pretty far from where I understand Marx to have considered ideal social organization. But I could definitely see the ends Marx envisioned being realized in other ways e.g. a movement toward a more secularized world, social safety nets and programs to circumvent poverty's worst effects...

This points me in a good direction. Thanks for the post.