MG42’s are a core part of how the game is balanced since day one of the vCoH beta. It’s supposed to be better, that’s the whole point. Axis sets up and supports the MG42 while Allies scout, flank and attack. Allied MGs can’t be as good unless you let Axis infantry be as good. Then you end up with homogenization and factions like OKW that struggle to remain balanced and playable.
The game is in a really good spot right now and doesn’t need massive changes to the HMG dynamic. Minor adjustments to the Maxim would be fine but are honestly not necessary for the game to be balanced and fun. (US vCoH M1917A1 .30 cal MGs were basically never used but vCoH was still, and still is, balanced and fun.)
Not exactly true in the soviet vs wehrmacht matchup... grens and conscripts are fairly even in the matchup but the mg42 far outclasses the maxim....
If we were to make your interpretation correct then conscripts require buffa to be "superior" to grenadiers as you claimed...
Anyways the real best way to fix this is just to buff the maxim to hmg42 levels of viability and be done with it... unless you are going to claim that conscripts somehow outclass grenadiers...