this whole thread speaks about how strong inf secs are and how volks are trash compared and you say only penals compare? I always do well when I play usf vs an okw player since you can easily close the gap and get close to a volk squad early with rifles and watch said volk squad melt.
I know Volks and Grens usually come up short against Infantry Sections and Riflemen. But those aren't the only infantry available to OKW or Wehrmacht. For OKW specifically you have Strums, which are like Panzergrens and are T0, then you have Obersoldaten. Riflemen can do okay against Strums early but IS will struggle. Plus Riflemen and IS don't have a single ability that you don't have to pay, vet, or pick a doctrine to unlock. So just a little bit of extra map control and you'll be way ahead.