VSL doesn't change the grens role on the field, you save all your abilities and get additional member squad. Moreover, you use grens in the same way against same units with and without VSL.
With PTRS-41 upgrade, you lose several abilities and almost all AI efficiency.
In the end, VSL is not an weapon upgrade. G43 here is addition, not the main element.
The role is changed. Grens by default are not "Assault" units, only when they play with G43 or VSL they are effective to be played in that way.
Indeed they don't lose what they already have. For me, the only issue if there is one, is the clarity of what you should expect from a unit when you see it on the field.
And in the case of Cons with PTRS, i think it's fine.
There is nothing false in the story.
Guards where in higher power level because the "dance" bug was fixed. There was a time that spamming Guards was quite popular.
There was also a time when PTRS conscripts spam was also a thing, you can even find video of PTRS conscripts blobs. There was always also reason to use them if one goes T1 and wants protection from vehicles but there is little reason blob them, there simply better commander out there and I do not think that the rework was very successful.
But my point was different. By making PTRS available stock we ended up with increased power level of Guards and PTRS conscripts because of overlap. Changes to Penal created ripple effect that ended up to many changes across the board.
I've address both points already. Tank Hunter doctrine saw use when PTRS were destroying support weapons and in meme games (using salvage to recoup mp and fuel through T34 spam).
The "increased power level" of Guards is your own fictitious narrative.
List of nerfs:
-More expensive (30mp), 1/3 of xp gained through PTRS, less deflection dmg, worse vet 2 by moving half of the value to vet 3, worse total RA by 0.02 at vet 3, grenade nerf (on top of been less wipy it's less effective against garrison), pop increase, tripwire removed
List of buffs:
-0.03 RA at vet 0, fixing/QOL of rebuying weapons, hit the dirt ability