Okay to start DOTA is not an RTS at all. But my point is that
player base wise when it comes to balancing around competitiveness far more "good" players play 1v1 and 2v2; and the large disconnect between those modes and 3v3 and 4v4 can be seen in how very good (as in top 10) players from 1v1 and 2v2 got raped in 3v3 and 4v4 in the past tournament because the other team simply coordinated more.
Basically you win team games by playing as a team; Relic can't balance the fact in randoms people don't play like a team. You can make cooperation and synergy more intuitive and less abstract but that's about it.
The
one thing you can fix while not fucking over 1v1 and 2v2 is the maps. 3v3 and 4v4 maps are hot flaming garbage that look and feel like they were designed by someone who enjoys making people suffer.
As to comparisons to other RTS games.... this isn't like other RTS games. We all know that and that is why we are all here.
Just because the RTS genre has been laying in a shallow grave for a while doesn't mean CoH is super extra special.