I am not a huge fan of the new ability for the e8. It makes the tank still not as good out the box, and gates it's effectiveness upgrade behind a vet 1 ability that removes the main differentiator between the e8 and the normal sherman, it's mobility.
I would keep the e8 as it is in the pre-patch game, and instead give it abilities to emphasize its suspension (since that is what the easy 8 designation actually refers to).
IE: At vet 1, the tank no longer takes any firing on the move penalty. This will make the tank unique again (I'm honestly not sure why it was removed, as it never seemed to make the tank particularly crazy for it's price.) The base tank itself could use some mobility buffs so it can be more mobile than the panther at least.
Or, one final idea, make it an infantry support tank as would fit in a doctrine like "Rifle Company." Give it the white phosphorus shell the comet has, in a nod to the film "Fury" and as a more aggressive smoke screen dispenser.
Increase the tank's cost if these changes are too much (but I don't think they will be comparing it to what it has to fight).
no movement penalty makes no sense. usf already have the best tanks on the move. you can easily close out a 2v2 with 3 E8. and even in 4v4, you can spam e8 and t34 for the meme.
the latest buffs seems strong, i hope to see at least a +1 popcap increase per e8
the state of coh2 favors massed units than higher performance single units. e8 is as good as it gets for massed multi role unit