It is and was included in one of the strongest commanders before - the one with T-34/85 and IS-2 (Armoured Assault if I'm not mistaken).
I agrre with you Armored Assault used to be very beastly before T-34/85 adjustments. Spam maxim + Zis to T-34/85 than call in IS-2 to seal the deal, on top of that this guy also get skill planes. With this commander, If you don't get too much squad wipe, when you get T-34/85, nothing short of TA can stop your army. T-34/85 + IS-2 just steam roll everything and when things get too hot u can always throw in skill planes.