This deserves some discussion....

[Der Kuenstler]

.....The reason is, in a small battle, you are both going to get maybe one tank. Just one tank. What's going to happen in the game when your tanks meet and he gets your tank first? You are going to lose the game, that's what....

Not always true, i've had many good games where i've lost all my AFV's and still managed a draw and even the odd win. Granted on an open/steppe map things may be hopeless but on an urban or hilly forested map with good use of smoke those big metal coffins aren't so scary.

Now, now...I'm saying that, all else being even, if you lose your one tank, and we both have the same amount of troops, except I have an intact AFV with HE to fire backing me up - and I use it correctly - I'll win. Unless I screw up by not keeping that tank away from your troops, I'm going to win, and there wouldn't be diddly you could do about it....