I do play 2v2.
And Im not an expert about 1v1 but how can this unit be a big issue there? It seems to be a crazy idea to go for pershing nowadays when it gets bullied in the current Tiger meta. Or by a panther. Now with the small price and CP increase for pershing, both heavies should be affordable at roughly the same time
Heavy Cav is amongst the most played USF doctrine in 1v1 and commonly played in 2v2 too. It kills infantry even better than the regular Tiger and has more mobility. It's a squad wiping machine. 80 HP and 30 armour less doesn't make it super fragile. Pershing also has 260-240-220 penetration, more than the Tiger and KT. Both have almost equal % to penetrate each other in a 1v1 fight. The only real drawback of the Pershing is that it has no range buff with veterancy.
Pershing loses in a 1v1 slugfest against a Tiger but the margin isn't that big. Just because Axis has a Tiger doesn't mean you can't use a Pershing. You just need either 1-2 Jacksons or multiple AT-guns.
AVRE is one of the most commonly used UKF strategies too at higher rank 2v2. Despite the Tiger meta, and that is way harder to pull off because the AVRE isn't of much use against tanks.