Yeah it's bizarre how this ability has been so worthless for so long. The massive received damage bonus is the weirded thing about it. It makes it a big noob trap.
If they didn't have received damage increase, they could solo obers from neutral cover in the late game, for 20 munis, RE spam would become oppressive as for 20 munis, re could suppress any squad and then move into close range and keep them suppressed. Add 2 bars to this which vastly increase the rate of suppression during suppressing fire and you have a recipe for the strongest squad in the game.