It currently costs 290/295 fuel to get a T34... ost can get the superior panzer 4 cheaper... true in the right hands the T34 trades better... its still damn expensive
Also do you know it costs more for sov to tech to t4 than for OKW to tech to the flakbase? 190 vs 205/200
Thats ofc skipping sidetechs like at nades and molotovs which pretty much means penal only builds... m3a1 is part of the calculation as sov is fucked earlygame without its pressure
This simply means
1. T2 builds will always spawn the T34 after the P4
2. T1 builds can compete so long as they take both fuels
I forgot to add... it gets more crazy if okw goes for the BG headquarters instead... 170 fuel vs 205/200 fuel...
Ok so just a lot of things wrong here and I'll go through them.
1. Don't factor in m3a1 as a "must have". Not every player does use it and it is built almost NEVER against ost.
2. Soviets start with 20F, T1 takes 10 and T2 takes 20. So I don't know why you have a varied fuel option that is the difference of only 5, when it should be 10.
3. Given you go T1 which is rather potent right now and don't go m3a1 because you're against OST you get this equation for a T34 rush: 10F+85F+90F+90F-20F = 255F. No clue how you got to 290/295 with just an m3a1 added which is 15.
4. OST fast tech using T1 to p4 you get this equation: 10F+40F+90F+15F+120F-20F = 255F. The exact same as soviets without going T2 for a pak gun or 251. So the notion that the P4 comes for "cheaper" is wrong.
5. OKW fast tech using T1 to P4 you get this equation: 15F+25F+15F+120F+140F-5F= 310F
WITHOUT MEDICS.
Want to just factor in the buildings/tech?
Sov going T1: 10F+85F+90F-20 = 165F
Ost going T1: 10F+40F+90F+15F-20F = 145F
OKW going T1: 15F+25F+15F+120F-5F = 170F
The only real disadvantage you'll have in a theoredical stalemate as soviets is when the 1st tank hits the field, and when you max out at popcap given you have equal number of tanks. Every tank after the 1st one as soviets will arrive sooner than any counterparts 2nd armor piece.
So yeah, in conclusion teching is fine in the fuel department so long as we ignore the massive holes in faction design.