The same can be said for revolution. No past attempts have worked, of either path. Sure there's some temporary progress, but the fact that we're not currently living in global communism means nothing has worked so far. But then that's generally how things go. Things don't work until they do. People tried making planes long before the Wright brothers, and conceptually they weren't far off from their failed predecessors.
I don't feel "tied up" by electorialism. Voting is one tool which only requires serious obligation for a couple hours every couple years. Even direct action as, or in support of, a candidate only seriously occupies a few months at a time.
Voting doesn't prevent me from otherwise fighting for class solidarity. In fact, political action tends to draw people dissatisfied with the conditions of their class. Electoralism and protests and other "tools of the oligarchy" are excellent ways to find motivated comrades searching for solidarity. You don't have to limit the people surrounding electorial reform to electorial reform. They're often also the ones who want to get involved with organizing and mutual aid.