Profile of Vipper

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Working from memory

More DPS at close/mid range. JLI get more DPS at mid/long range. Carbine vs Kars
Path gets 2 carbines with 40% crit. JLI get's one with 75/80% crit. If it's 80% then it just need 1 hit from Kar to crit.
0.8 vs 1.0 receive accuracy. Because of this, Pathfinders are way more support unless you give them double bars AND they get vet.
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Since adding the critical makes calculation more difficult (and really has to do allot on how many entities fire on the same entity and the thus the target squad size)with out it:

Pathfinders
m1a1_carbine_paratrooper_mp 9.99 9.17 6.26 4.48 3.28 2.61 2.19 1.83
pathfinder_m1garand_scope_mp 1.82 2.02 2.20 2.38 2.55 2.71 3.34 3.91
totatl 2+2 23.63 22.38 16.93 13.72 11.66 10.64 11.06 11.48

JLIRS
grenadier_kar_98k_rifle_mp 5.76 5.07 4.37 3.82 3.37 3.00 2.60 2.26
jaeger_light_recon_g43 2.19 2.33 2.47 2.59 2.70 2.80 2.77 2.53
total 3+1 19.48 17.56 15.59 14.05 12.81 11.80 10.56 9.32

Pathfinder have more DPS at all ranges.

Vet bonus up to vet 3
Pathfinders
+10% sight range
-20% weapon cooldown, -29% received accuracy
+14% weapon range, +20% weapon accuracy, camouflage stays shortly after leaving

Jaeger Light Infantry Recon Squad
Unlocks the 'Field First Aid' ability
-29% received accuracy, passive cloak
+40% accuracy

By vet 2 Pathfinder weapon fire faster thus generate critical faster and by vet 3 they have more range. JLIRS are tougher and get better accuracy bonus by vet 3 but they do not actually have any significant advantage over Pathfinder.

As for a place in game Pathfinder are great for spotting for mortars, great at sniping model once the mortar hits and can even be used for sneak attack against vehicles if upgraded with bazookas.

On the other hand since riflemen are so cost efficient as other doctrinal infantry Pathfinder seem pale in comparison.

Once more in the current state the squad are about equal.

So you are trying to say that infiltration and much better combat stats are completely offset by beacons? Players often use JLI because they're good and cost effective. Pathfinder's reinforce cost and popcap is too high for what they do. They are used about as much as the Greyhound, and for similar reasons.

You are actually mistaken Pathfinder have more PDS then JLIRS that can become even better with rack weapons.

Both squad are recon squad and Pathfinder not only can set up beacons but also come with camo (that helps them spot with impunity) but they also get better sight radius at vet 1 instead of medic kits. JLIRS need to reach vet 2 to get camo.

The infiltration of the JLIRS is mainly useful against a sniper (and even then the sniper can still retreat) since they have very little shock value with their low close range range DPS and luck of a grenades. They are probably the infiltration squad with least alpha strike value.

Both units reinforce with same cost and have some pop.

People don't use pathfinder simply because they do not use the Commander...

Pathfinder and JLIRS are of about equal value.

Or simply nerf riflemen so that USF elite units have a reason to exist.

Or make USF able to be promoted R.E.->Riflemen->elite (Paratroopers,Rangers and officers)

Continuing to buff unit to make them more attractive is not the way to go.

Speaking of which...

Can somebody remind me what happens if you select two shermans and one has HE shells loaded, while the other has AT shells loaded? Are there two toggle abilities that show up, or is it only one of them?

The button for the ability is simply gone when they are both selected with different munition type.

I think so but maybe a moderator can give you a better answer.