I think Osynyagov has covered this in post #53. Relic started off down one road (Ostheer), then switched direction (Wehrmacht). So it is a deliberate decision by them, not an error. Iirc, without checking, it comes about bcs of the introduction of the WFA.
Sure that is correct from the game's point of view, however that still doesn't make the fact that Ostheer=eastern front and OKW=western front while Wehrmacht is both together, irrelevant.
If both this and the new Close Combat game turn out to be good it will mean two new quality WW2 strategy/wargame titles. Good in one sense, not so good for CoH2 multiplayer playerbase.
Its lack of moving accuracy is well-documented across threads on this forum by frustrated players, so there is potential for change if the community is vocal enough in the upcoming Relic polls designed to determine focus points for the future balance patches.
Regarding the resource requirement for it: if your doctrine preferences are not set in stone, you can use the Luftwaffe Support Doctrine, Osttruppen Doctrine or Close Air Support Doctrine that allow resources to be dropped on controlled Fuel/Munitions points -- enabling you a quicker gathering of needed amount of Fuel to tech for and deploy the Panther.
I have no other advice on the tank as its lack of performance in accuracy is not something you can circumvent by playing differently.
You should be punished for not having tank on the field when you take beating so enemy, who maybe lost many tools forcing your tank to fall back will have room to play without tanks and thus gain ground