It's a bit difficult to have enough screentime for 3 specialist AI-only units (Pathfinders, Thompson Paras and LMG Paras) that offer zero AT utility, when the faction already has access to the best mainline infantry, and they have no AI issues to begin with.
Recon Company's vision of Pathinders as a utility unit seems more coherent than a "hey, let's strap another AI only unit in the roster" implementation of Airborne. Given that beacons are Paratrooper's main feature, it should be more affordable to field a Pathfinder & Paratrooper mixed army.
For Paratroopers, the simplest change I would make is allow Paratrooper-equipped support weapons to reinforce near beacons.
Pathfinders just need to be cheaper scout units, and provide the utility necessary to complement Paratroopers. I don't know:
- Smoke artillery callins?
- Allow Paratroopers to retreat to Pathfinders (in friendly territory only)?
- Lay mines? (or let Airborne paras also lay mines?)
To make them cheaper scout units that people would use, you would have to lower the reinforce cost to 28-30, popcap to 1 from 1.5 per model, and give them mines and possibly smoke. It would be helpful if they could reinforce from their own beacon. I would not use Paras to lay mines, they are too expensive to use for that. Also, giving them infiltration at 0 CP would make some people really angry.
Lastly, the P47 strafe does have to get fixed to make this commander viable. (See someone's post about this above)