I think some people forgot the volks with shreks could still deal with allied infantry. Therefore it was possible to see volks win engagements with a shrek, negating medium armor play while still being competitive in infantry engagements. Meanwhile for both Rifles, Tommies, and Penals adding AT to them had notable decreases to their AI capacity while not being as effective as Shreks against medium armor.
True, although bazookas and panzerschrecks alike at that time were RNG sniper rifles. Volks were a bit unique in that their 5 levels of vet also gave them great accuracy for their panzerschrecks, and their panzerschrecks made it really easy to get to vet 5.
Plus as USF you always had your snare (after vet 1). OKW at the time didn't have a snare. People also forget that.
I do agree however it sometimes feels that the Strums take up way to many roles for OKW, the mix between repairs, mines, and early game assault troops on top of the handheld AT is a little overboard. Maybe making placing shreks on Obers and having to decide between the mg34 for infantry and shreks for AT would be better.
I've been preachin' this since '15.
Now that Obers are closer to Stormtroopers and Panzergrens a potentially earlier arrival might actually be seen as feasible.