You claim that he never meant it literally.

I claimed he never said "I promise I'm going to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it" which he didn't. He meant he would literally at least try to, but saying I'll try isn't how running for office successfully works so he said I will instead.

So, how exactly then are we supposed to judge his policies?

Why can't you figure this out? He says what he would do if he had his choice and nobody else could stop him. Since people obviously can we know what he's at least aiming for and might accomplish.

Genuinely curious, you seem to have the inside track on the info.

Here is this magical inside track that's been around since the beginning of time as we know it.

http://i.imgur.com/ghfuvoh.jpg

Personally, I don't like to be "surprised" when it comes to foreign and domestic policy, but I guess I'm just old-fashioned.

I meant surprised as in getting it built and payed for by Mexico against the odds just like winning the election, not surprised as in "Wow, he built a wall, but I had no idea he would do such a thing. This blows my foreign policy mind."

You're not old fashioned, you're just lacking social dynamics skills.