The second one is easy, it is just keeping in range.
PG 1v1 and win shocks is impossible, or just RNG god smile upon you.
Of course I know snipers/flamed ht win shocks, but that means it was forcing the player to get the hard counters, vCOH was never like that. If I want, I can do all crazy strat like 6 Volks to StuG IV or 7 PG to Hotchkiss or 5 221 SC start without worrying a M8 fuck up all my army. Creative soft counters are missing in COH2
Let me give you a hint. You will often kill 1-2 shocks sometimes even 3 that approach PG's without losing single PG model. (from green cover, and keep your distance. like you would do with cons)
You don't need to stick around and engage in close combat after that. Shocks are quite expensive and MP bleed isn't insignificant.
Point is to win the game, not every single engagement
Yes Shocks are mad, Yes nothing can survive 1v1 fight vs Shocks in close combat. But they are expensive and they have counters against which they are powerless. (Flame HT, snipers, flame eng are quite good trade of if you burn 1-2 shock trooper and retreat, scout cars)
most of these units are cheaper than Shock unit.
Complaining about PG's and Grens not being able to stand up to Shocks is like complaining about Cons not being able to win 1v1 vs assGrens in close combat
I completely agree with being forced into using units by opponent. Not just shocks, entire game is designed like that