I get your point but the thing is that Relic took the aspects of a full priced game and a free2play game together and mixed them very poorly.
I also like the idea to add new strategic options with commanders but they do not do it right. Succesful free to play titles like League of Legends add the possibility to buy those commanders (champions in LoL) with an ingame currency. You need to play about 20-25 games to buy a new champ.
I CoH2 they implemented the WarSpoil system which is just a poor excuse that they can think "yeah we have done something so players can't complain anymore". Half-hearted and based on pure luck. It took them 3 years to implement a system that should have been here from the start (the new war spoils mechanic). Meanwhile most of the playerbase is gone.
BTT: I like the idea of new commanders but Relic CLEARLY makes them overpovered compared to the old ones to get players to buy them. This is also sometimes the case with new champions in League of Legends, but LoL gets patched AT LEAST every 10 days (And overpovered stuff gets nerfs). I can't remember the last CoH2 patch. Meanwhile, emplacements commander sucks ALL the fun out of the game and you can't do anything about it.
I share the feeling you explain but Ostheer faction is the least underpowered when it goes to Commanders available right from the bat. There are plenty of Ostheer (and Soviet) commanders available for free, we are not talking about USF/OKW/UKF with their 3 stock commanders. It is more than enough to have a good and versatile load of commander
Mechanized commander isn't available with the game but still remain mister comeback commander with his big bro' King Elite doctrine commander.
Should we also mention CAS doctrine given 2 times with events? This commander remains really powerful vs majority of players.
So while we are at it, what is your load of commanders as Ostheer? Mine, Festung Armor, German Mechanized, Mobile Armor.
And I primarily use German Armor: Scope on 222, Pz4 Command tank, Lehf available if necessary, sdfk250 to trollplay (but not only it counter well USF in general) and smoke barrage is always a nice ability to attack or retreat.
Second commander I use is Festung: Pak40 if the map allow it, armor smoke is always good, Pz4 command tank and railway arty.
I almost never use Mobile Armor, only to trollplay with Puma spam.