Recon Tommies are actually pretty damned good for what they cost.
It's just that you can't enhance them further. They take the spot of mainline infantry in a company, and taking these guys as your mainline infantry means that you're screwed for AI after the snipe ability is used.
So, the problem lies in lack of upgrades. What upgrades to give them however, is up for discussion. Grenades come to mind, but full on LMG's or HHAT seems foolhardy.
If you give them nades, you basically make them more desirable than regular tommies manpowerwise.