In my opinion as a player, Axis being able to rely on Shreks and PAKs as their AT makes their need to use a tank small except in dire circumstances. Last night, when Jebus and I played Nick and you. We still had 2 Panthers in reserve we never even used...
i was finding that more and more it was more benificial to use tanks only for anti infantry and my ammunition to be based on anti tank. Ostwinds and puma's are an insanely effecient way to deal with allied infantry, until the allies start hitting tier 4 and get their buffs to antitank (increased range on rrs, raid assault, next gen vehicles, duel rocket racks, tank reapers) at which point ostwinds are just mince.
I have also been attempting the 10 stug swarm rather then buying anti infantry tanks and putting my ammunition into anti infantry, lmg,mp40s, flamers. The ostwinds and pumas most definitely raise the k/d ratio and allow me a much easier attrition rate vrs the allies. while having enough pak/shreks to stop the swarm of shermans can sometimes be an issue when dealing with mass crocs.
all that said, without some form of tank anti tank you are at the mercy of calliope's and no heavy crush. Also the psychological issue of a heavy tank is lost.