What do you mean by this? Because it sounds like your describing the exact problem. One of the reasons it allowed you not to waste things is because it shrugged off more tank shots than it ever had a right to. Its 160 fuel, there's no reason for it to reliably bounce point blank mediums tank shots. Some yes, but not a majority of them....
I often wrote about a main-problem the current game-balance still has. It is about tank-hunters perform too good versus every kind of stuff and the lack of some counter-parts.
Let speak about Ostheer versus e.g. Brits.
You Need Elefant to counter Fireflys, you need Fireflys to counter Panther, you need Panther to counter Churchills, you need Churchills too counter medium-tanks etc.
But then there is the lack, that e.g. Firefly is so accurat, that it also hard-counter 222. But Elefant e.g. misses light vehicles by 50/50. It is kind of unfair assymetics that has to be standardize. Also Firefly should be worse against lights.
And now it comes, if Elefant becomes way worse and less atractive you can make the game balanced. Changing the real fails of the game, not everything around it. Since when game becomes better? When heavys get their massive nerfs. E.g. King-Tiger. After it nerf other units become more important.
All over the years the game becomes less cancer, but the late-game tank-destroyer meter is way to potential. And that is why Brummbär had such much armor, not to be undestroyable by mediums, but to have a little bit of chance against SU85/Jackson/Firefly.
And until this problems arn't fixed, it is a overnerf of the Brummbär.
Edit: And I think that game balance is ok now. But I think Ostheer and Brits have bad fraction-design. My main-spot is on Ostheer.
Like:
-Brummbär changed with StuG E.
-HMG42 changed with HMG34.
-Ostheer Mortar changed with leIG18.
etc.
Or Brits:
-Give them a normal Mortar. If in trench it becomes range-bonus. Mortar-emplacement becomes a doc-unit.
-Give Piat the funktion to shoot a small AI explosive.
To make fraction more smooth.
Edit:
The tank-hunter-problem can be also fixed by way less accuracy on movement for units with range over 50. E.g. SU85 is in a good spot. But what is with Firefly, Jackson and Panther? Why 6-pounder hit units like 222 easy, royal-engeneers get AT-grenade, so nerf the 6-pounder.