Ostruppen have always had the bigger target size and cover requirement and yet were used to good effect before so there really isn't a need to consider that. If you can build 2-3 ostruppen faster than 2-3 Grenadiers because they are cheaper then that is still an advantage is all I'm saying. Their faster/cheaper reinforce time also lets you get back on the field faster too which is also still an advantage. They have always been "grenadier ver. 2" . You're saying that like it's a bad thing or something new but Call-In Grenadier Ver. 2 and Buildable grenadier Ver. 2. is still grenadier ver. 2. no matter how you slice it.
If in your opinion they are "grenadier ver. 2" you should be debating JPA32 who has a different opinion and not me.
Turning a doctrinal infatry to clone of the mainline of faction is not very good design.
But no they where not always like that. They started a cheap squad that would be used to cap fast and allow ostheer to gain an early advantage and they would lose power after a while.