There are genuine differences in philosophy and while I'd agree if someone said they were like, a sankaraist or ho chi mihnist (unless maybe they're from Burkina Faso or Vietnam, that maybe could make sense) they're both under the wider umbrella of Marxist lennism, which is part of broader Marxism, which is part of broader socialism which is part of broader leftism.

I'd analogize it with music genres. Say Darkthrone and Black Sabbath are both metal bands, they're therefore also both rock bands and also both music. That doesn't mean they're the same. Categories are useful but should be used as descriptors of how you already are rather than a code to follow. I thought I was an ancom with ideas of how best to get to communism, turned out that was more or less the same as the essential elements of Marxist Lenninism, therefore I'm an ML. I didn't begin by saying "when I grow up I want to be a Marixist Lenninist" and then studied the theory and modified my beliefs around that, it described how I already felt. And like how unless I'm talking to other punks I wouldn't distinguish between a dbeat or stenchcore band, I'd just call it punk, I'll just call myself a communist to normies, to those involved, I'll be more specific.