I know they weren't cheap or plentiful in real life, but if they were put in game they would be cheap since you can't charge 150 fuel for a tank worse then a T34.
Japanese tanks were neither cheap nor plentiful, Japan was in the same dire situation as Germany was in late 44 due to fuel shortages. It's not that their tanks aren't tigers, it's that they are worse than literally every single medium tank currently in the game except the Command Panzer IV.
And I think almost every one can agree OKW isn't a good example of smart faction design.
We can keep having this argument forever because you believe relic to be idiots who would just copy and paste the real japanse army into the game, and I believe they would be smart and actually balance them accordingly.