Thr SU76 comes much earlier. They also are in completely different factions. With the SU85 being mechanically the same unit 60 range casemate), it only makes sense to balance the SU76 towards LVs and mediums.
OST T3 is much too late to justify any balancing towards LVs, the StuG and the Panther are functionally so different that they force different playstyles. The Panther is not an upgraded StuG, and OST having two AT options for the late game makes for much more interesting gameplay than Soviets.
The balance team acting real smart by making the su-76 a LV counter, but then they force it to have unreliable on the move accuracy and low damage per shot...on TOP of being a casemate...
the stug doesn't have unique playstyle, it is a cheap TD that can penetrate every single allied medium in the game, with a rapid firing rate and an ability that stuns tanks. panthers basically are panthers, most people lose them due to their own failure
I am all for reworking the SU-76 into being a TD with the option to do a kv-2 siege for artillery support, or even an ability that gives it better damage and pen for a limited time (or straight up fuel upgrade that upgrades at t4, that turns it into a zis on wheels). But wait, SOV cant spam the same unit and be strong, that would be unfair! why should those pesky commies be allowed to do what we wehr/okw players do?