Well I have now played many games with and against Obersoldaten and I think they are fine the way they are now.
It's a 4-man, expensive, late game anti infantry unit with zero AT-capabilities.
By the time they become available there's enough stuff on the field that can take care of them.
This is exactly right.
OS come out after 120 fuel investment AND the time it takes to wait for the second truck and to upgrade it.
Even if OKW go straight for Obersoldaten, by the time they come out, the fuel and time investment guarantee that you'll have the opportunity to take a large portion of the map and have vehicles to counter the Obersoldaten -- which by the way have ZERO anti-tank ability, cost a fortune to buy and reinforce, and take forever to reinforce.
Just reading this thread, it looks like a lot of Soviet players are just mad their shock troops can't run around and destroy all infantry anymore. One even suggested only shock troops should have armor... what a joke.