When I played USF during these tournament games I tried to not play like a "retard brain dead nfantry spammer" by Getting a captain,Stuart,AT guns,you name it against STUG E on top of an LT.
it didn't matter at all. Infact looking back I think I threw the games by going captain.
The captain tier and 57mil are liabilities in high level play. You're forced to do this brain dead major Sherman rush or M10s because nothing else stands up to the stooge.
Soviets I'd say should have 0 problems VS STUG E if they simply tech T2 and AT Nades,on top of their conspam
I watched your game vs vonivan and I think your micro mistakes cost you that game as opposed to your lt - captain tech choice. Lost a couple ambulances quite easy, walked an at gun into infantry, didn't really have your captain on hand to support vs the stugge. I do agree that straight major would have been better for you that game though (you had the fuel advantage and the sherman wouldn't have been much later then stug and you could have played around it for long enough).
I'm not having a go at you by the way, you're obviously a very good player to give vonivan a run for his money and we all make micro mistakes.