If your sole criteria for cost efficiency is DPS in slugging out, the Pak is far more cost efficient. Actually OKW have to 400/135 15 pop for something pak can do for a fraction of the cost.
It most certainly is, but JP4 isn't exactly going to die if royal engineers will stand next to it for 5 seconds.
By the same criteria SU-85 is more cost efficient than M36, which I doubt you will find allot of people to agree.
There is this lil thing called a turret. Ease of use is also important factor and Panther isn't exactly on the same power level as JP4, contrary to jackson vs SU-85.
Plus, you might not be aware of it, but you can't build jacksons instead of SU-85, because "allies" is 3 different factions, not 1 mega faction, again not the case with JP4 and panther, comparing cost efficiency of AT cross faction is plain stupid.
As a counter to mediums, best thing one can do if his opponent has build a JP4 to counter his medium, is keep it medium in base. The okw player has already payed more for unit that can not contribute anything while paying more upkeep for that unit.
You've just solved all the problems against jackson, ff and SU-85 here!
Just keep your meds at base!
Balance ultimately achieved by snek at 20.10.2019, mark this moment in history books.
Hell, we can now rebuff Maxims to how they were, grens cost less, so if you see maxim, just leave your grens at base, now opponent has nothing to counter on field and he wasted these resources!
(gotta love your logic at times)
For countering heavier targets all one has to do is build an ATG to keep the JP away.
Is Panther immune to ARGs?
Are allied TDs immune to them?
Why JP4 can be countered by ATGs and kept behind just fine, but when its SU-85 or jackson its "problematic"? Hypocrisy much?
Versus allied TDs it can keep them away as long as there no atg around but it getting a kill is another story.
Heard of puppchens yet?
Once more the unit is simply not a cost efficient counter to anything and that is why it use primarily in 3vs3 and above.
That's only your opinion, not a proven fact, doesn't matter if you will word it as a fact, its still your own personal opinion only and doesn't change the fact that JP4 is more cost efficient against meds.
To sum up:
Vs medium cost more than any of them hardly better than Su-85 or even Stug
You can't get SU-85 or StuG as OKW. Comparing to anything else then panther is pointless.
Vs heavy armored target inferior to SU-85 not better than Stug
You can't get SU-85 or StuG as OKW. Comparing to anything else then panther is pointless.
Vs TDs cost about the same with performance similar to an ATG
And since ATGs have superior DPS to TDs.... JP4 is superior to TDs too, which is exactly what Sander said, glad you came to that conclusion on your own after all.
Imo JP4 is not actually a bad unit it has simply been power creeped by the extremely cost efficient allied TDs that among other things have seen increases in their penetration while the JP4 has not. (and has received several nerfs in vet bonuses instead)
It has been power creeped by Panther.
Panthers existence holds it back, absolutely nothing else.
Panther is your choice for heavy armor like IS-2, while JP4 is there to counter everything that's called medium and premium medium.