Regarding your point on Volks: Cons and Volks are reasonably comparable early, aren't they? I'm not sure Cons are totally rolled over by the Vgrens, though I have admittedly not done extensive testing. Volks definitely get a spike when they get STGs, but this isn't an immediate upgrade, and i'd presume it should factor into their "cost". (plus, like, Volks kind of suck lategame as a combat unit. Aren't Cons significantly stronger when 7manned and vetted?)
1. volks are slightly superior to cons off the bat but the fight isnt unwinnable...
2. volks will bash cons to the ground once they get the stg while the soviets have to fight tooth and nail to survive till T-70/7 man
3. as mentioned before conscripts need to upgrade to get their molotov and snare while volks get their incendiary and panzerfaust FOR FREE with tech
4. vetted volks can beat vetted cons in close range but will lose at longer ranges
5. all of this is the reason why despite having an OP powerspike of a light tank, a top tier AT gun and a complete vehicle roster along with some of the strongest heavy tank callins the faction still has the lowest winrate in the game at all levels of ladder... the faction simply has an unworkable mainline (unless airborne is used)
Volks don't do so well against Allied elite infantry either, nor against US and UK mainlines arguably. Not in combat terms, unless they get extremely favourable engagements.
no but conscripts are worse in all respects... and USF kinda struggles against a bit buildings due to the lack of incendiary... in certain maps it can be pretty easy to punish USF unlike UKF...