Your write up on the state of factions and balance in the game was very well done.
Only thing that set me off was "historical authenticity", because I absolutely hate the new "gritty realistic" look most units have now compared to the old comic Hollywood style COH1 had.
Tulip launchers are not gimmick. Brits have no problem ending the game before Ost T3, but if you see a JP4 get a Cromwell.
Firefly has a clear role, that role is destroying Tiger tanks, which thanks to Tulips it has a high burst damage output to do so.
My advise against Jagdpanzer is to just ignore it. If you really want it dead, locate the tank, tulip it from fog and follow up, or Cromwell circle strafe.
Us Osteer players are free wins right now unless we support lelics balance team and buy mechanized assault, and why the garden would I give relic money by buying DLC to be competitive in a "esports" game.
I gave up on Ostheer 1v1's. Every game involves USF and choking.
Maybe in the hour long corridor meatgrinder marathon that is 4v4 things are "balanced" but if Ostheer is ever going to win a 1v1 it needs buffs, a modernization rework, or USF needs to get nerfed.