The problem is that the two issues are almost always combined. Most top players will correctly identify the problem, this isn't a bad thing it's very important.
However the problem comes in when say a demo trap demolishes a vet 5 squad. In a casual game this is important but not game changing, not to mention it's incredibly fun to do. In a top tier tournament this can be brutal and cost entire games. I wouldn't consider the demo trap overpowered as it required micro or a massive investment of munitions if you put a mine on top of it and it led to some very intelligent traps.
>Balance Patch: Demo traps too strong, nerfed. All of a sudden a key tool for punishing blobs and carelessness is made useless.
Not all top tier players push against asymmetry but a fair amount do. A fair amount pushed to remove the abandon mechanics as too much RNG a few years back. I'm not saying balance the game for the newer players. But some of them have very red v blu opinions and it appears they are increasingly having the ear of Relic...
You are confused in some facts.
1- Demo + explosives was a bug, on which damage was multiplied instead of added. Demo + mine against infantry was a stupid overkill. Demos on their own were more than not, single unit squad wipers.
IMO, demos should had retain lethality and useage, but made them more visible if not used in buildings or cover. You wouldn't need a minesweeper to see the model if it was in plain sight.
2- Abandon mechanics with functional vehicles makes no sense, if the crew can't be saved like with USF. Abandon mechanic with engine criticals are fine although some refinements could always had been done (Overkill should never allow for abandon AKA heavy offmap artillery not completely wiping artillery vehicles).
And while I understand some of the complaints towards homogenizing the factions, I personally don't think this is the end of the world. But really, the entire history of CoH2 is a story of rolling back additions that were poorly implemented or poorly 'fixed'.
+1
-People playing offmeta vs meta (always)
-Relic releasing new factions and commanders (1st pic)
-CoH2 meta before community patches. (2nd pic)
-CoH2 meta after community patches. (3rd pic)