“It makes perfect sense if the cherem wasn’t on a specific person or people, but on anyone who conducts themselves a certain way.”
Certainly, and that is precisely the reason why gedolim like the Chafetz a Chaim held that the Cherem is totaly not relevent, as chassidim are not authentic as well, there are no major differences in Hashkafa etc. (I.e. in whatever the true reason on the cherem was based upon)