Everybody seems to forget on how fast a p4 can be on the field if it's rushed.
You compare it to a later game tanks, t34-85 should be compared to panther, EZ8 meh it just come far later
The P4 seems to be fine, it's not his role to go trough defence and kill everything, you need to use it as a support and at an opportuniti tank, if you see a tank with damage engine, rush in, close the distance, kill it, blitz back. You have the pak (OST) to do the at job
And come on, the p4 vet fast, you need to be carreful with it