i have no issues with T0 HMGs but i do have an issue with factions not having (at least) solid counters to a unit in any situation. USF has on option against HMGs in buildings for the first several minutes and that is flank (possibly with smoke) and plink at it (and throw grenades for a slightly faster plink at the cost of mun).
on the flip side, T0 HMGs are a very solid counter to early game infantry spam, like riflemen blobs. dealing with 5-7 riflemen before med tanks is VERY difficult without suppression or a similar sized blob of comparable units.
USF has Volley Fire to make up for their lack of early machine gun[...]
i agree with the concept but the implementation of Volley Fire has been from a cheap Mind War that won the shittiest unit in the game almost every infantry fight to something that is almost never worth using because it's both ineffective and makes RETs die faster.