I never understood the complaints about the MG42. I see it as different, but less micro heavy than the the maxim.
Overall, I like using a pair of snipers, 1 scout car plus MG42s to capture the front line. I use the Mg42s to bring them under fire, then I micro the scout car to do damage quickly and buy time for my snipers to join the fight.
I usually end up with the MG42s doing a reasonable amount of kills, with the snipers and the scout car combined doing twice as much.
I lose a lot of MG42/maxim crews but that's the nature of the unit. I lose them, and then reman/heal them.
The KV-2 is supposed to have the same gun as the ISU-152, so if it has the same gun/stats than it would a strong anti-armor weapon with the AI power of the ISU-152.
The ISU-152 has 150 penetration and 240 damage.
I presume that the KV-2's armor/hp is the same as the KV-1's.
I think, based on the patch notes and elsewhere that it has tank range (40) instead of heavy TD/AG range (100)
The T-34/85 buff is welcome, but I don't think the nerf to its scatter was needed. : )
Still no fuel cost decrease for the ISU-152. A moderate one, like 30 to 40 fuel less would have made this weapon more purchasable.
The German weakness in manpower is addressed with 'elite troops' if troop veterency is a global upgrade.
The Soviet Achilles heel...their weakness in late game heavy tanks... is addressed with 'Soviet Industry' w/ the MP to Fuel conversion, repair, and KV-2.
In many respects I see this doctrine as making the Soviets more like the traditional German one. The KV-2 is likely to be the Soviet response to the Tiger tank.