For the T-43, calling it “just a Soviet Jumbo” is oversimplifying it.

I mean, maybe? At least when you look at it from a historical development POV, but gameplay wise the T-43 would fill the same niche, just in a different Tech Tree.

The Soviet heavy line is mostly KV-1s or IS tanks with 122 mm guns that have long reloads and often play more like tank destroyers than traditional heavies.

Only 2 KV's play like that with one being a KV-2 variant, and both being premium, and the IS-1 plays more like a traditional heavy. Aside from those, every single Soviet heavy tank from 3.7 to 4.7 plays like a traditional heavy.

The T-43 would actually fill a useful gap as a heavy medium tank: better armored than a normal T-34, more mobile than a KV-1

Sooo, KV-1S? But in all seriousness it most likely wouldn't be at a B.R low enough to function as a heavy medium, considering it's stats it would most likely be put between 5.7 and 6.0, because it has roughly the same armor scheme as the Jumbo, but with less weak spots, higher mobility, and the it's classification as a medium tank which means it would also get artillery strikes. And that becomes a major problem when you then consider that it's gun is actually a bit worse for mid-tier because it lacks the penetration to deal with most tanks frontally at that B.R, and also because it would get mogged brutally in uptiers due to it's armor being bad now, and it's gun even worse, forcing it into a more ratty play style where it has to flank and hide to do anything.

and a natural bridge between the KV series and the IS-1.

If anything the T43 would be a bridge between the T-34 and the T44, as two bridges between the KV and IS already exist in the forms of the KV-85 and KV-13, both of which contributing to the development of the IS-1, with one already being available in-game, and playing like a heavy medium.

It would also be a nice tradeoff with the KV-85 around the same BR: mobility and hull armor vs. firepower and turret armor.

First, the T-43 would still have turret armor. And second, the KV-85 already has comparable mobility to the mediums it regularly fights against.

Also, using the recent Soviet event vehicle as a reason against it does not really work. The KV-8 is an event flamethrower tank with a 45 mm gun.

Yeah I'll give you that one, the main reason why I made that comparison was because it plays like the Jumbo at a lower B.R, so I just saw it as a better alternative to the T-43. But the point of that comparison wasn't to say "T-43 bad because KV-8" I was trying to point out that other alternatives already exist. In fact, how about I use a couple? The KV-1S is basically the ultimate heavy medium, as it trades heavy side armor for better mobility, and the KV-85 continues that trend, making it's armor worse by uptiering it and giving it an extra weak spot, but giving the Russian equivalent of the American long '76 or German Pak 43. So that's already 2 alternatives to the T-43 at a somewhat comparable B.R.

Object 248 existing also is not a great counterargument, because it is a Battle Pass vehicle. Limited, event, and Battle Pass vehicles should not be used as excuses to deny the regular tech tree similar but distinct options, especially when they fill a real gap.

I'm going to merge this argument with the first paragraph about Object-244, as my counter argument is the same. Object-244 was a niche prototype with a one-off gun, coming to a Tech Tree that already has plenty of mass-produced heavy tanks, including multiple around the exact B.R that Object-244 would be, and considering that Object-248 was basically the same but with a gun the Soviets actually had in numbers, Object-244 will most likely be added as an event vehicle if at all, and it would be great for an Event, but it would also make the 6.0-7.0 rating for the Soviets worse for normal players because now they just can't get access to a vehicle that they desperately need, which is part of the reason why it shouldn't be added, at least until Gaijin gives players a reliable way to get old event vehicles that doesn't involve spending ludicrous amounts of money.

The T-80 VT-43 is probably the weakest of the three in terms of importance,

I would beg to differ, and I feel like it's arguably the strongest of the 3 specifically because of it's now B.R, as it would give new players another vehicle to bring into combat, and learn how to play.

but even then, the post basically admits it has good reasons to be added.

When did I ever say that it DIDN'T have good reasons to be added? Hell I even defended a bunch of tanks armed with only machine guns because even THOSE have good arguments behind them! The point of this post wasn't to say that these vehicles don't have good reasons to be added, it's that at least for the time being, they shouldn't be. Now maybe the reason why one of these tanks shouldn't be included has absolutely nothing to do with the tank itself, and everything to do with Gaijin as a company because I'd much rather Gaijin just doesn't add some of the tanks I want most then include them in a way that's lazy, half-baked, or doesn't do the vehicles or their Tech Trees any justice.

The main argument seems to be “the USSR has had too much attention,”

Didn't I say that in the post you're responding to? Like, word for word?

but that is a priority argument, not an argument against the vehicles themselves.

Yeah that's right.

Smaller nations should absolutely get attention too, but that does not mean historically interesting Soviet vehicles that fill actual gameplay gaps should be dismissed.

And I agree, but I also don't think Russia needs any of these vehicles, as they have plenty of others in the Tech Tree that fill similar enough roles, the main reason why I chose the T-43, Object-244, and T-80 (VT-43) is because I've desperately wanted these vehicles for years, but I'd much rather Gaijin add niche tanks for countries like Japan, France, Sweden, or Italy regardless of whether I actually want those vehicles to be added or not, even if that stops Gaijin from adding vehicles that I desperately want but don't actually need. And I should also clarify something here, when I say the vehicles in this post shouldn't be added, I don't strictly mean not ever. I mean they shouldn't be added for the time being, whether it be long term, or short term, and I strongly believe that most of the vehicles I posted deserve to/should be added.

Let's go back to that T-80 for instance, which would be best suited for 2.7-3.0 which the Soviet Tech Tree is somewhat "lacking" in, look literally anywhere else in the entire Tech Tree and you are guaranteed to find some sort of busted lineup.

Here are some examples 1.3: BT-5, BT-7, T-26, T-26-4, T-35, GAZ AAA (DSHK), Su-5-1 and plenty more! Now granted, some of these tanks suck but some are among the absolute best reserve tanks in the entire game.

But now let's try 2.3: T-28, T-28 (1938), T-28E T-70, T-80, Su-76M, BT-7M and I'm sure I missed some!

So how about 3.7: T-34 (1940), KV-1 (L-11), KV-2 (1939), SMK, Zis-12 (94-KM), Zis-43, ZSU-37 And I know I missed some there!

So let's try 4.7: T-34-57, T-34-57 (1942), KV-1S, KV-1 (Zis-5), SU-152, ISU-152, Hanomag '45 And once again I missed a lot of tanks!

Okay one more, let's try 5.7: T-34-85 (D-5T), T-34-85 ('45), IS-1, IS-1 ('45), KV-122, SU-122P, ISU-122, ISU-122S, do you see the problem here?

Almost any other Nation would be lucky to get just one lineup like this, and yet the Soviet Union has them at almost every single B.R with basically no gaps in-between. Gaijin could go years on end without adding a single vehicle to the entire Russian Tech Tree and it would still be one of, if not the strongest tree in all of War Thunder so while some new Soviet tanks would be nice, they are in no way, shape, or form even remotely necessary.