The majority of units have a clear role. You've got dedicated infantry killing vehicles, you've got dedicated tank killing vehicles, and you've got generalist vehicles that do both but not as efficiently as specialists.
At the moment, the defining trait of heavies is being nigh uncounterable without a dedicated tank destroyer or another heavy. If the opponent has the silver bullet to kill your werewolf with, they're just not worth it.
As the result, their strategic role has become 'surprise unit': rush one out and roll over an opponent without their silver bullets handy. The current balance direction is reinforcing this design, making them hit the field earlier without changing their performance.
I think this approach is wrong: it's just reinforcing the tank destroyer meta without solving any of the problems with heavy tanks' lategame viability. The answer I've been given is heavies are being taken in this direction because there isn't any other possible role for them.
So here's my question: what do you think heavy tanks should be for?
- What sort of enemy army composition should they be good against?
- What should they be able to counter?
- What should counter them?
- When should they be available?
- Where do you think they should fit into the game?
I struggle to believe there's no option other than as shock units.