Not really I have always said that badly designed.
They are not however UP in any way thus they are "fine" when it comes to power level.
So this is why they just got buffed?
Because they were "fine"?
Why do you think they needed to be buffed then? Mod team loves soviets?
(I am use the term fine because I would rather avoid yet another debated about Penal power level).
Literally everyone who knows you here on .org knows full well you have a raging hate boner against penals.
No need to try to hide the obvious.
They are actually cheaper and arrive earlier than g43 Fuss while about the same power level from vet 1-3, and some people claim g43 Fuss are OP.
They have nowhere near the utility of PFs and much weaker and more expensive HMG backing them up IF they have an MG behind them at all.
Stop looking at unit as if nothing else existed but that unit and what it goes against and start noticing the fact that there is a whole army that performs different behind that unit.