Heres the thing with Ost panther: Ost is a faction built on varied combined arms that need to work together to maximise potential.
This is true in early tier infantry fighting, but it still holds true at higher tiers (tanks). THIS IS A CONCIOUS DESIGN DESICION.
I guess it is as conscious as:
USF not having access to heavy armor (see Pershing)
USF not having access to mines (see RE)
USF not having access to great hand held AT (see paras)
USF having less cost efficient support weapons (see any of them)
Soviet having average stock units (see most of their stock unit)
and so on...
Most faction have been buffed considerably and the only faction properly designed, which also used to serve as the benchmark, is simply left behind.