No you can't. It takes forever to setup/run. Also, since squad is bunching and can be wiped with one grenade, and since german infantry have stronger dps this unit isn't really durable.
Demos are a bit stupid imo. Everyone should have access to them or no one should have them. At least make them targettable and destroyable by small arms once a minesweeper finds them.
And soviets should have panzershrek and lmg42 upgrade for conscripts. USA should have heavy tank than?
Demo charges are just fucking OP and it is bullshit that you can't defuse them with Minesweeper. If detected they should not be able to be blasted and than removed by Pioneers.
They both counter each other. Your line of thought is the reason why so many allied players noob move their kv8 straight into okw lines without support. it then gets isolated and killed.
on the defensive i would use the kv8 to pick off overextended axis squads . on the offensive this units can be the most devastating flanking tank in the game provided you identify and locate all the AT in the area. use your infantry to scout out en put them into a good position.