I am starting to feel that you are arguing for the point of arguing to be honest, since you are contradicting yourself.
According to you:
and making cheaper will not change its performance vs allied TDs. Actually my suggestion would make it less attractive than a JP4 that can fight all enemy armor from mediums to Super heavies as you propose.
making it cheaper would improve its performance vs allied TDs... not in terms of raw stats of course... but in terms of efficiency... since it can be made into a cost efficient 120 fuel 60 range reduced armor anti TD specialist...
As for your scenario of building both JP4 and Panther I sincerely doubt that unless trolling in 4vs4. The picture of Panther "running amok killing infantry and tanks with machineguns and 75mm rounds" is probably from another game...
One could argue about the Tiger/JP4 combo but I am not sure how problematic that might since one can already use a Pershing M36 combo.
though not truly relevant in 1v1s this is quite often the case in 4v4s... id hate this change to ruin 4v4 balance (where a large portion of the community plays)
Again an exaggeration as allied TDs are NOT the "sole" counter to Panthers, the same things that counter JP4 can also counter Panther like ATGs and AT infatry especially one with elite bazookas.
Panther "spam" is not really an option unless again in 4vs4.
everything is a counter when you have enough of it... even PTRS can beat down a panther if you have a hundred of them shooting at a panther... but that doesnt mean the counter is efficient...
tds thus far are the most cost efficient counter... and have brought a semblance of balance in what was once a very inefficient encounter... introducing a unit that can cost efficiently counter them would result into imbalance again which is the point of the whole discussion...
We might be playing a different game since in the game I play I see allot mote Pershings, IS-2, Churhcills, Comets than I do Sherman, T-34/76 or Cromwell.
i see both quite often tbh... depending on the gamemode at least...
The Panther is not a premium medium tank, it Role is that of countering heavy tanks and thus it has an AT main gun. You can call it a hybrid if you like but it is not a main battle tank.
not quite sure about this one... but a discussion here would be off topic... lets reserve this one for another time
I have clearly presented my point of view, back it up with stat and have little to add. You are entitled to your opinion. Lets agree to disagree (not sure on what we disagree on) and lets pls move on.
for clarity`s sake ill raise my point once more here...
tds thus far are the most cost efficient counter... and have brought a semblance of balance in what was once a very inefficient encounter... introducing a unit that can cost efficiently counter them would result into imbalance again which is the point of the whole discussion...
which is why making the JP4 a dedicated anti TD unit would be a horrible idea...