Biggest issue is keeping a sniper alive. I have never kept a sniper alive for a whole game, especially German ones. Its just to hard with all the soviets splash damage and RNG that always seems to favor them (my experience only). They need to be babysat all game and I guess my micro just isn't up to snuff. There is one game I lost vs NorthWestFresh where I kept my sniper alive for the majority of the game and he racked up 70 kills. A random gunshot salvo got him...:/ After he had survived countless.
I feel your pain...
You can skip T1 and have Pzg very early. Problem is with ST and Pzg. They are too strong and rape conscripts and greens like no tomorow. Shocks and Pzg with assault rifles are T4 units and is fault from Relic give them early.
Skipping t1 as Ostheer in 1v1 and 2v2 pays off when going Osttruppen at the most and it might be sometimes useful in 3v3+ (without Osttruppen). I think the timing of elite infantry was fine before the patch. I don't see any reason to make those t4, soviet t1 and t2 holds enough counters for pgrens and german t2 and t3 holds enough counters for guards or shocks.