Dont be Silly Vipper. Your proofs are stupid and pointless. Give us a real replay or big test in cheatmode !
You are aware that you can do those test yourself right?
But since you ask this a simply test cover to cover, vet 3, Heavy sapper +1 bren vs LMG grenadiers.
https://www.coh2.org/file/19334/heavy-sapper-test.jpg
As you can see sapper won 4 out of 10 engagement vs the best main line long range infatry.
The result vs VG or with 2 brens weapons would be more in their favor.
I think the results are conclusive the claim:"are very bad in actual combat" is simply false.
Heavy Sapper wont be " fine-ish Combat troops" even with moving speed buff. They are lack of combat vet, take too late and too much investment to gain nearly 97% DPS of MG42 Gren vet 3.
And you are simply mistaken. They do get enough vet bonuses and they great base stats, the combination bring them to Shock troops durability.
0.59 target size, 1.25 armor and 23 reinforcement cost allow them to out bleed most enemy units, and they even repair faster. I stand by my original post:
With the changes to Sapper heavy sapper upgrades with 3 weapons + minespweers need to be look at.