I don't think the problem with the Panther is the Panther.
I think it's the IS-2 and Tiger.
Consider the following:- The IS-2 beats the Panther in a 1v1 battle.
- The Tiger is a better heavy tank counter than the Panther.
Therefore, if you're playing Soviet and you pick an IS-2 doctrine, your opponent's overwhelming best answer in 1v1 is a Tiger doctrine. Going Tiger gives you 160 more HP, a load of anti-infantry firepower, and going Panther doesn't work.
What if we changed that?
What if we cut the IS-2 and Tiger to 960 HP, same as the Panther and Pershing? The Panther can then take on the IS-2 in a one-on-one battle, and the Tiger stops being a better pick than it.
Now that the IS-2 can be countered nondoctrinally, there's less incentive to go IS-2 every game.
Now that the Tiger isn't a better heavy counter than the Panther, there's less incentive to go Tiger every game.
Sounds almost perfect, except reduce is2 and tiger sight to 45.
Reduce panther health to 800 like comet.
This will make heavy unique as always.