Any system that does not accept and positively use the fact that individuals do things for their own benefits and have a built-in, evolved, sense of fairness in the sense that they are sensitive to each individual benefiting in fair proportion of the contribution they made is doomed to fail.
Also, your worried about economic freedom and individual choice. Most billionaires now have unelected bureaucrats running charitable foundations. we've abdicated so much power and decision making to the billionaires that we don't much choice. I guess if count what toppings you want on your pizza there's plenty of choices. as long as you don't mind toxic chemicals in there...I'm looking at you skittles.
In all socialist experiences, the standard of living of the lower class skyrocketed in comparison to the respective previous regimes. This is a measurable, material fact. In comparison, what you and most liberalist thinkers label as "fairness" is not only abstract but also disconnected from the current reality.