The idea isn't to improve their early-game. It's to give them more teching flexibility and give them an easier time with light vehicles like the Stuart and T70.
So why the hell would you buy a PaK as your fourth unit against Conscripts and Rifles?
Maybe, but even one PaK hit would force them to retreat and repair. And Panzerfausts at Battle Phase 1 still arrive pretty quickly - pretty much at the same time the M20 arrives.
You don't have to skip T2 with the above changes. It would just make it an option. Access to the 222 and 251 would be completely unchanged.
Yes you're right, it is not the M20 but the Dodge I had in mind. Anyway, you'll never be able to counter Sov T1 and USF mechanized commander without Faust at T1.
A pak = almost 2 units less on the field just to hope to hold early light vehicle.
And giving all the tools you may need at T1 isn't = to diversity.
And you should have a pak at the moment stuart or T70 hit the field. If you don't, or you have a problem with your BO, or you want to skip T2 which is a choice to assume.