Why is Lend Lease helpful?
Fuel is not your problem with Soviet Industry
We're talking about team games man... Ergo there's more than just the industry player on the field....
Try it. One go industry, the other lend lease and another any commander that has mark target. Look at the sheer number of tanks you can field, it's insane. the Sherman's are decent against infantry (although not great) but the KV 2 is enough to negate any infantry based AT while the herd of tanks you will have amassed is enough to swarm any late game axis armour. Add mark target into the mix and it's so hard to counter.
I'd really love the piercer to be a bit more potent against armour but hey-ho