My take on Deng's reforms: in a single generation, average household income rose 5x and since 2005 has doubled again. Imagine if you and everyone you know saw their income increase tenfold! When surveys report 80% approval ratigs of the Communist Party, I believe that, because the entire country saw a massice jump* in living standards—My family went from being able to afford meat once a year to being able to afford meat daily. I was told about how some people would criticise Deng's policies while they had meat in their mouth. So yes it was less socialist, but I think the massive increase in real wealth makes it good.

*You could even say it was a leap forward in living standards...a very great one, if you will.