I've messed around with Tommies and Sappers (no officers or vet invlolved) in vCoH a-la cheatmod. Grens, Volks, Tommies, and Sappers are unchanged in EiR; Even vanilla volks roflstomp nilla tommies and sappers if you're at any distance and you're in the same cover type at the same time. Grens absolutely destroy nilla tommies, and nilla sappers are so rarely useful. Frankly, tommies don't seem to be as useful as vanilla riflemen (which actually kill faster).
Well without officers they dont perform up the MP they cost i did some test in EIRR with herrpants a while back same setting. grens won against sapper 7/10 grens won against tommies 7/10. with officer you would almost see exact reverse categories.
However if you take into accounts grens heal while fighting they heal most DPS right up in a vanilla fight, which is annoying.
I think the problem is yes there is no middle ground you have: now Recon tommies would be great if it wasnt for them being weaker and costing such a high pool.
Sappers 180MP-4 pool
Tommies/canadian infantry 255MP-3 pool
Recon tommies 210MP-45Mun 6 pool.
And ounce you calculate how many officers you put in.( i take 2-3) which is 21-14 pool value which is ALOT especially when you have a RE company. since the allied officers have alot more time staying alive. (heroic armor flame rushes Clown cars hummels anything fire related) and to boot they are weaker then the axis officer, or they feel By far extremely weak.