assengies have no ability to build cover, they can't even build sandbags, not meantioning tank traps. And elite crews actually provides +0.5 per model repair speed bonus, so no point building them to repair something. So what is the point of this engineering unit if it is, like it was said before, as alternative mainline that can build barbed wire and lay mines? Assgrens can actually flank and have very nasty nades, while assengies have flamethrower.
Cav rifles have worse stats and vet bonuses, yet is more useful unit then this.
You don't have to build cover to be an engineer squad. Last I checked cons, even with conscript repair, are not considered "engineers"
You can say "as an alternative mainline" as many times as you would like, it does not make them one.
You are talking about how usf doesn't need ass engies because they have crews (granted last I checked crews couldn't burn out garrisons nor lay mines...) and then say you want them to be alternative mainlines as if USF doesn't have rifles.
USF doesn't have alternative mainlines, at all. They have specialist support squads for the best and most flexible mainline in the game-rifles.
But yes, let's make them an alternative mainline, one that is a "mainline" but actually an engineer.... Like all those other mainlines that lay wire (could you kindly list at least one mainline that can do this? Cause I can list engineers in all factions that can....)
Ass grens ARE better in combat, it's almost like they are a combat squad and not an engineer squad....
Cav rifles full their niche, if you use them as they are designed, they perform extremely well....
It seems your issue is that you don't understand the fundamentals of the game and want rangers that also can deny the enemy cover and lay mines. Not balance, just something YOU can make work....
Your dillusion that ass engies are like Volks with repair highlights and underlines that you fail to grasp even the besics of unit role and game design.