The Rak trading actual combat ability for the ability to retreat isn't a good thing for the rak I hope you guys realize.
That's incorrect, it has both. Its easily on pair with ZiS post all the changes it got.
AT Guns shouldn't have to be in positions to retreat in the first place. Retreating your Rak(s) means you don't have AT Guns on the field for the next however many seconds it takes for them to run to base and return meaning your opponent just brings his vehicles up supported by his AT Guns and overpowers you. Rak has retreat out of necessity not out of desire. OKW would be ecstatic about the ability to trade retreat for 60 range because it could do it's job better.
And while OKW has a retreated rak at base, healing and reinforcing, all other factions have one decrewed, on the field, being shot by a tank that decrewed it.
Retreat is a MASSIVE advantage to preserve vet and resources you'd have to use on rebuilding it as other faction. It also already gas 55 range, it really doesn't need any more nor can make a use out of it alone.
That being said, the Rak is fine and doesn't need to be changed, it's still the worst AT gun of the bunch since it can't zone the same area other At Guns can, but it's perfectly usable ever since they buffed it's range from (40? 45?) to 50 and the retreat adds a little extra unique dynamic that allows it to be a little more aggressive to make up for the poorer coverage.
You clearly have no idea what you were talking about in the whole post.
Rank always had 50 range, it got buffed to 55 and 5th man.
Its nowhere near being worst, its EASIEST to vet up, preserve that vet and live long enough to utilize bonuses while all the other stats but range are on pair or superior to ZiS-3.