I am not so sure, the M-42 is cheaper and has 2 fire modes.
LeIG and 7.5 cm StuK 37 L/24 (PzIV D, Stug E) could easily have 2 fire modes (actually LeIG used to have 2 fire modes) direct and indirect fire.
Direct fire mode would be ballistic and could have lower range and some penetration or deflection damage.
Indirect fire mode would be explosion and work similar to now.
One could even take further and swap Leig with the Ostheer mortar since it fits more thematically and probably as factions.
That is exactly my idea. Even the change with mortar and leIG18 was my idea, 2 years ago for one patch I presented that idea.
It would fit way better, mortar for OKW, leIG18 for Ostheer.
So leIG18 gets very bad pen, so you have to build PaK40.
leIG18 becomes a counter for light vehicles and maybe ligher mediums like M8.(no real counter, but you can pen them)
It is now off-topic as hell, but there is even a fire-shell ability for Ostheer mortar ingame. Use that for fire-storm commander.
So change the line-up:
Ostheer:
T0: Pioneers ans HMG34
T1: Grens, Sniper, leIG18
T2: PnzGr, 222, 251, PaK40
T3: StuG3, Ostwind, Pnz4
T4: Panther, Brummbär, Panzerwerfer
OKW:
T0: Assault-Pio, Volks, Kübel, Püppchen
(upgraded T1 or T2) FlaK
T1 (med): HMG42, Mortar, UHU
T2 (rep): Luchs, Puma, Stuka-zu-Fuß
T3: Panzer4, Jagdpanzer4, Panther, Obersoldaten
Firestorm:
- Fire-Shells for Mortar
- MP40 upgrade change Volks into a Assaul-Gren clone, Geballte instead of Granatenhagel? Flamer for Pios
- Hetzer improved forntal armor
- SdKfz 251 without mgs and closed netting instead of Opel Blitz (more armor and HP)
- Mabye changed Rocket-Call-in: could be one Sturmtiger shell or simply Stuka. Or a bombing run as Soviet one, but with a He111 on the mini-map. Can be shut down, but can crash.