They buffed it's squad wipe potential at medium to long range while reducing it's short range squad wipe potential. Why they thought that made sense is really anyone's guess.
Allies are much easier to preserve units with, if Axis has a 120mm mortar equivalent it wouldn't be nearly as good simply because it would have a much lower chance to wipe squads.
True enough,though it has everything to do with the design of axis better units against RNG squad wipes. of course its easier to preserve allies units, that is unfortunately how the factions were designed.
I never understood why Asymmetric balance means make things as different as possible to be asymmetric. in vcoh you had asymmetric US vs Wher and they mirrored each other quite well in standard game play which led to easier balance and less frustrating play.
Personally I feel like on either side you play its just a frustrating experiance at one point.
Either play as axis and have cool, well designed toys and play against bleeding/ squad wipes or fight as allies with the not as great stuff, but rng death tools. SCII is asymmetric without the frustration like coh2.