To steer back on the actual topic of this thread: great post!
So I decided to try to do the total opposite of your recommendations with Germany. G1 I go with 3 bomb / 1 art. Future buys vary depending on the Allies’ actions, but usually involve one more bomber, and a mix of tanks and inf. The fighters are all stacked in NW Europe and the bombers serve as a mix of SBR on Russia and Atlantic fleet attacks/deterrence with the fighters. So far, only below average luck on SBRs or opening moves (eg disaster for Germany in sz7 or losing the bb to the dest in the Med) have seemed to lead to this strategy failing miserably.
I started in the silver rankings after placement games, and am now inside the top 30 in the gold rankings, and still creeping up, so I wonder if this seemingly ridiculous strategy with Germany can take me into the platinum rankings. I doubt it, but I’d like to hear your thoughts on this.
Cheers!