The perfect way to answer to the question "Is OKW balanced or not?" is to play with USF and Soviets against it and to be honest to yourself while doing so. Than, answer this question: Which one of these battles seemed more difficult? The ones while playing okw? The ones while playing Soviets? USF?
I discovered that the most difficult is playing (or rather resisting) with USF. Hell, even with soviets it's not easy at all, but there you have the cheesee tactics at least.
All in all, OKW is somewhat easier to handle. If you got experience with that faction, you will go farther in ladders than with USF, for instance. Let's remember that they are a quite simple faction, not manny things that require extra micro! (except for Puma). How much micro involves an USF play? Alot, compared to an OKW play! Maybe here it's the real problem
Peculiar notion. the soviets cheese only works again the ost not against the okw. many cheese tactics like maxim spam and sniper spam will fall on its face. And compared to SC2 i dont find this game to be micro intensive at all. it requires common sense and the full knowledge what your faction limits and capabilities are
Of course the common sense part is rather rare as i once again had a soviet player last night who had the brilliant idea to charge a shock squad headlong on open ground to 2 obers to throw a grenade.