This kind of parsing is dangerous and its how bad actors are able to infiltrate and get into power. Yes totalitarian communists didnt practice it in their true form and were totalitarian dictatorships, but its dangerous to pretend like they didnt sprout organically from a communist movement, and didnt identify and define communism for decades.

Stalin wasnt a nazi no matter how much he fits the bill more and it’s important to recognize them in your ranks clawing for power and waiting to take advantage of good will.