There are too many self-proclaimed "Marxist-Leninist" who have zero understanding of german idealism, and as a result the Marxism that naturally comes after.
"Hegel is so complicated and too hard for me to read so I will avoid it. " I can't believe there are people who have the audacity to call themselves Marxists and refuse to engage with its fundamental building blocks.
you don't really need to read phenomenology of spirit to understand Marxism. Marx built upon and added his own stuff anyway. if you were like writing a theoretical analysis then sure it's a good idea but Marx/Engles intentionally explained themselves in a way so you didn't have to read Hegel. Maybe if you really like the dialectical method then you should read Hegel to learn more.