Did you use it also on 1vs1? I always thought that arty commanders aren't so good on 1vs1.
It is meta in 1v1 now cuz of the Valentine buff. In 1v1 you just get it for said valentine tank (which is like a mini cromwell now) and concenctrated barrage ability
before you give Ostheer the ability to convert (concrete) buildings, you kinda have to add something like an anti-building demo charge to Rear Echelons, otherwise USF literally cant get rid of these. A player with half a brain wont let you destroy it with flamer pioneers.
I know OKW has similar issues but they have goliath, stukas and flame hetzer at least. Would be fine to give it to Sturmpios too tho