True, although I cannot help but recall that the whole reason Ostheer has a t0 MG42 was because of the effect of officers hitting the field.
A minute sooner is not insignificant for establishing early game field presence. That and a 150mp captain squad by 60 fuel may revisit that initial pacing issue between USF and Ostheer. Time and testing will tell.
I feel like a 50 fuel captain with ATG/Pak Howie and a 'side-tech' for the Stuart, not AAHT, may work. At 20 fuel it would not change the pacing of the Stuart while allowing ATGs and Pak Howies a sooner field presence.
The LT could keep these proposed changes, but the 0.5 tech could unlock the AAHT and the M20. The proposed changes for the M20 are necessary for that unit regardless of teching adjustments.
This would grant faster officers, as is apparently so desired, and a cheaper way to go both LT and Captain without affecting the pacing of Major tier or any vehicle. The cost difference for both LT and Captain without any half-step teching would be 10 more fuel.
Which is already shaved off the cost of grenades.
At the moment, when USF first officer hit the field, Ostheer have more squads on the BF. I don't think the officer will arrive before Ostheer 4th gren in a 3xRM BO. If he hits the field sooner than that, that's mean there is one riflemen squad less, or 2xRE + 2xRM or 1xRE + 2xRM.
What is going to make the matchup Ostheer / USF more dynamic is the grenade fuel reduction cost + Lieutenant fuel reduction cost.
I also proposed different changes for USF but it seems Relic wants to keep free officers and bi-direction teching, fair enough if it works!