M8 that has jack all to do with non-linear tech and more to with balance
UKF sure but OST not tier skipping is the main part of it's design.
People seems also dislike to take risks
No, it's all about the power of the units which makes you not require diversifying your army. That's by design. People didn't like that design therefore more linear teching.
-Soviets didn't need support weapons when they could just spam sniper/clowncar into T4 Su85/skip tech into doctrinal tanks
-Soviets didn't need main line infantry when they could spam Maxims with Zis gun into T70/Doctrinal tanks/T34 spam.
-USF didn't need support weapons when you could just play with Rifles + M20/Stuart + Shermans every game.
-OKW didn't need support weapons when they just could spam Volks into Obers + PV/KT
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OH before reworks was either opting between T3 or T4 because the tech cost was prohibit to get both in non +40 min games.
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There was risk. Problem is that people tend to not like cheese and getting defeated by spam army of small diversity unit compositions.