To say one type of economy is better than another is largely
philosophical issue.

This is the only thing in your post I don't think is right.

In my experience it was a very practical issue. The communist
countries I visited had completely fake economies on the surface --
nothing was available, nothing worked, and the lack of trust between
human beings led to medium grade, simmering, misantrhopy.

Okay, okay. Waaaay off topic.