I like all that selective memory from freshly made troll accounts.
Lets recap some facts, shall we?
-HMGs underperformed, all of them, that included maxims
-you could a-move over every HMG with anything better then CEs/pios
-all HMGs needed buffs, including soviet ones, because of blobs, mainly OKW blobs.
-penals are unusable, so no point getting them
-conscripts are not scaling at all so no point getting them
-everyone is sick and tired of using 2 doctrines only just to have infantry that can fight
Conclusion: maxim overuse is not a result of any overbuff, but the result of alternative options, which should be the backbone of the army, not being valid at all.
And last but not least, the fanboys warrioring for HMG buffs you mentioned were axis in vast majority, using single, unsupported HMG against 3-4 LMG rifles and expecting it to win.
