german elite infantry is a non threat. Ober is far away from their previous strength. Panzergrenadier and Fallschirm had always been dodgy. Rifleman doesn't need their terminator buff to fight german "elite" infantry.
You don't except a 280 mp unit to fight equally against a ~400mp unit anyway. If the rifleman does fight equally against ober then it's a clear sign something went wrong.
The problem was the grenadier's vet accuracy bonus and the lmg42. Nerf the grenadier's veterancy, don't buff the rifleman's own veterancy.
I don't think the intention was for them to be equal, but at one point it was so one sided that it was ridiculous.
However, the issue then was that they also nerfed obers, they buffed bars ( some say not enough ), zooks are cheaper, the pack howizter buffs. I think the combination of everything kind of led to the current state. But even now I really don't think it's that bad. Calling them terminators is a bit of an exaggeration imo.