Sorry but I am pointing out is that your statement isn't consistent at all.
You tell me the aiming sight is shut in lowered position on purpose to prevent infantry rapping. Let's admit it.
But it doesn't prevent from shooting ground targets as underlined EU, just makes it painful. The reload time and rate of fire of the vierling still allow a continuous fire on a ground area and this is far enough to rape infantry (even if again it's painful, but it won't refrain a guy that wants his bunch of frags).
So the realism is broken, and the purpose of this digression isn't reached. The only tangible result is frustration for the guy that uses the wirbelwind, expects a great AA / AI weapon, and get a great AA but a "I can shoot infantry but it's nearly like I was cheating" armor.
Now let's consider the following facts: there is only one wirbelwind in one map, this map has many slopes and bushes, so that it's still possible to use the aiming sight on ground targets in some circumstances, and it's also impossible to "rape" the whole map because of the bushes, obstacles etc ...
And even if the wirbelwind is set in the right position, and starts battering infantry in open field, what are you expecting ? This armor has a high profile, and its continuous fire makes it easy to spot. If it isn't outflanked and PIATed, it will quickly get an arty or sherman shot, or even a rocket if it remains too concentrated on ground instead on air targets.
So again, which is the interest of the digression ? none.
Let's also remember that FH 1 has a fully operationnal Ostwind, that is as efficient against infantry as a wirbelwind, and this doesn't unbalance maps at all.
To conclude, in this particular case:
- Realism is ignored
- This doesn't make the game more fun as allied (as a usual Allied player, I would even say it softens a potential challenge)
- This cuts the fun to play as german with that vehicle