If two players are duking it on par, the OST can still lay down bunkers to defend vital flank points without having to worry about his capacity to assault at all.
I don't think that's fair, and I don't think Fighting Positions are fair without population either. Once you pay for the MG, it should cost population.
USF got nerffed for jumping out of their vehicles to repair cause of pop issues, some CAN'T anymore. Population matters in games. I don't see why MG bunkers get a free pass.
One reason is because ostheer has never been the strongest of factions and struggles with mp as it is. Nerfing them in this way just because it unnecessary I think. Obviously everything is up for discussion but I think this is a non issue. Against soviets bunkers are a good way to swap 150mp (plus precious time building them) for the muni for the satchel required to eliminate them, or a couple of shots from a su76. Against US they are more potent but it’s tough to find the breathing space to construct one against good players as you can neither afford the manpower or the time for one unit to be out of action to build it as you fend off the waves of rifles. Brit has an aec.
They are useful to OST in that they can help prevent collapse of your support weapon based army if the front line is cracked ( i like them as a backstop ) but I don’t think they swing balance much.