The Panther is a heavy tank, not a premium medium. Max health on a premium medium is 800. Panther has 960, same as the KV-1 or Pershing. As such, being good at AT and alright at AI is common. She's not a TD.
Don't put any stock into Relic's descriptions. Half of them are inconsistent or wrong.
The Panther is only a medium tank because the Germans classified it as such. It weighed as much or more than most heavy tanks of the time with similar or better frontal protection. It's also technically a heavy in game, because it has heavy crush.
Ultra Lights
Lights
Mediums
Advanced Mediums: Cmd PV, Panther, KV1, T3485...
Heavies: Tiger, TA, KV8, KV2, IS2, Churchill...
Super Heavies: KT, JT, ELE, ISU1
That's how they are classified based on their wrecks. Talking about it, is it possible to set the wreck HP to 100% instead of 50% so scavenging has any value?