Time to hit the history books. 1980s the fear propaganda was still strong, but the three letter agencies had enough material to pass judgment on the USSR.

Example: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1240452

The USSR bought grain when its harvests failed during the 1970s - this is not the action of a superior system about to surpass you and replace you.

The three letter agencies may have known better, but they weren't setting wages for the country. And, as you said, "the fear propaganda was still strong". So I don't think your position can logically work if 1979 is the year things started to change for wages.