Well I think you and the rest of the people who have a problem with the T34 are wrong. The reason people have problems using it effectively is because they are using it wrong. You don't build 1 T34 and take it out on the field like a P4 and expect to make a difference, you just lose it. You have to husband them until you have 5 or 6 and then go on a deep penetration raid destroying vital buildings before retreating to repair.
You say the T34 is not a Tier 4 unit, but I believe it is solely due to its cost. "Quantity has a quality all its own", is a quote attributed to Stalin. The Tier 4 quality of the T34 is its cost, not its combat attributes.
Joseph
So lemme get this straight its not good on its own, its good if you get 400fuel and 1200manpower worth and avoid all combat with them... Sounds like a winner here! No need to change the only tank option the soviet have outside of limited doctrinal choices turns out the best way to use them is to not fight! O guess you just need to hope that the enemy didnt lay any mines... Or do something with that BOATLOAD of resources while you were building and army that isnt any use against the enemy's....
At least the axis have unreliable at or this could be a disaster....