Your argument would have been very powerful if I would have said that the system is identical. Of course it changed, but is similar in structure, upward mobility, morality etc. Of course it had other ways for rewarding dissidents: by not caring about them.
Many of whom where not really integrated in the economic reality, and this time would fight a harsher world, at least in communism they had the support of those who hated communism. Many withered away in poverty, anonymity and alcohol. They tried to avert us that many of those holding power where from the same circles as the previous regime but to no avail.
Although when the father went back to Romania, no one tried to hold him in prison for 10 years and torture him, so perhaps something has changed - no?