Well the Alternative is either:
Nerf Shreks
Buff Allied Armor Values
Nerf Axis Armor Values
Zooks arent worth it and really should be. I doubt that Relic will make them useful in their current state by allowing them to be shouldered like the OKW mine sweepers. Right now you put your self to the AI of an unupgraded Gren without Rnades or a reliable Snare and are still more expensive. Why would you want to do that to your Riflemen?
Rifles are strong Early but the weakest at Vet 2 (IMHO) due to their Ass Backwards Vet Bonuses. And have the weakest vet bonuses as well. They dont perform as well as one would expect a unit that costs 50 more MP and have to pay for all their upgrades.
I like the idea of COH1 style handheld AT as well.
Well, i'd pick "nerf Shrecks", but only on long distance, so skill (!) actually matters, and kiting with mediums from Allies is a proper solution again.
If you bumrush your single T34 vs. a couple of upgraded PGrens, then you should lose, but if you use it carefully, you should win - which isn't really the case atm.
Zooks weren't even that useful in COH1, they were great vs. light or medium armor, but that's it.
Rifles are super versatile, they aren't supposed to be designated AT troops. PGrens already lose half their AI due the upgrade, but that's Axis.
Anyways, back to topic: Shreck spam + a-move = too easy and useful. So start there i'd say.