I don't see how talking of a late stage of capitalism presumes a known end state. It only requires the assumption that 1) capitalism is not going to be around forever, and 2) we're closer to the point where it's going to be replaced by something else, than we are to the point where it replaced the socioeconomic system that preceded it. You don't have to believe that the following system is necessarily socialism or communism, nor do you have to believe that it's going to be the last such transition.
You don't just need to believe you are past the midpoint: you must believe that you have crossed a threshold where current events and circumstances are precipitating or portending the end. While logically, this could be the belief of anyone who expects any non-capitalist system to be around the corner, it is in fact used primarily by Marxists/socialists/communists. Do you have examples of other groups using the term late-stage capitalism?
