I would agree that there's been too many tonal shifts in the name of balance, the worst offender will and always will be the penal battalions being an elite unit with the best equipment available.
Irioincally, that *is* hisotorical accuracy, penal battalions were usually glorified infantry battalions with a large amount of men and really good equipment because they had to take the worst battles. I'll see if i can dig out the book i read about it.