MG squad survival is now directly equatable with Maxim squads.
The only practical difference is now Maxims DPS + Setuptime vs MGs Suppression + Arc.
Sov crew has reduced DPS rifles, and Ost crew has reduced DPS M40s.
For Sovs claiming it is "too difficult to decrew", it is now exactly as difficult to decrew as a Maxim (notwithstanding Merge).
Machinegun crew survival overall may be too high (which is another topic), but it is now EQUALLY high for both factions.
That's a fair assessment. However, the fact that the MG42 can be built within the first 20 seconds of the game out of T1 makes a big difference. All you have to flank it with in the very-early game are Conscripts. And when you do, you should be rewarded with map control.
And if the Soviet player is forced to build T1 for a clown car to deal with MG42s, then he won't be building T2 anytime soon (if at all). If he does build T2,it will probably just be for a ZiS as there are too many counters to a Maxim on the field by that time. So even though the MGs on both sides are "balanced" and maybe a little OP, the Ostheer player can preclude the Soviet player's chance to ever really use them.