the reality of the US-ost match up do mean that the us can often get away without bar, nades, or bazooka. instead of lowering the ost tech cost, we need to weaken the rifleman and m20 enough so that the USF feel compel to researches nades, bars, and/or bazooka. This way the USF risk losing the early game by attempting to rush sherman.
Nearly all the time USF gets grenades, though. However, i dont see the BAR as often as it should be seen given that there is nothing wrong with it, but i feel like USF and its requirement for all infantry to run back to the base and navigate THIER TERRIBLE ROUND BASE WITH TERRIBLY PLACED RACKS AND A PATHING NIGHTMARE have a lot to do with it. Reducing any AI capabilities wont improve the use of Bazookas, which arent used for the same reason as BAR's, and IMO, are a bit overpriced.
I was never a fan of USF's "Riflemen do everything and are the only infantry" design... It makes it hard to get a strong reason to change riflemen - who also have a very buggy AT rifle grenade that has a minimum range for reasons.