[Volks] easily match and defeat Rifles early on
They do not. Volks and Rifles have comparable long range DPS, but Rifles have better mid and short range.
For what it's worth, Rifles also have 0.97 target size at vet 0, while Volks have 1.0.
If your Rifles consistantly lose to Volks, you are doing something wrong.
and you aren't paying side techs or worrying about vetting up to get fausts, flame nades, and STGs.
They don't have side techs, but their tech is more expensive than the USF's (because they get only 5 starting fuel) and their upgrades aren't as powerful. It's fair.
and they vet much faster than Riflemen plus they have 5 levels of veterancy.
Volks veterancy requirements are 480/960/1920/2400/3192.
Rifles veterancy requirements are 560/1120/2576.
They do not vet up that much faster, and their veterancy bonusses are generally worse. Again, this is fair.
This is overall the most OP unit in the game
They aren't. Take your bias glasses off.