I think the LMG has already been nerfed, because a few months ago i only build 3/4 LMG grens and was GG. Now i get only two grens just as meat shields and two pgrens.
Is a pain in the ass to kill a Maxim, but the MG34 is more annoying then the MG42.
But even though the axis HMG's have problems they are a must when it comes to blob tactics.
If I face a blob always retreat, there is no point in standing there and fight, and send my rest of my army elsewhere on the map (1 squad continues capping and another harass fuel, munition cuttle points), get a kubel to support and after you get a stuka or some arty just try and them suppressed by your kubel and blow them up