I think UKF play rates in general are bolstered because they are actually a LOT of fun to play.
I disagree with this. The faction is just incomplete and still to this day broken (I do NOT mean OP by that). I neither have fun getting slaughtered by Infantry Sections early game nor when getting my Infantry Sections get absolutely laughed at by a 222 or Luchs. The faction relies on weird gimmicky units like UC, Churchill, Infantry Sections to be alive just because they are not given enough tools to do actual fun and expectable stuff.
That's why, as long as UKF doesn't get a complete overhaul -for me at least- it will remain not liked either if I am playing it or facing it.