Absolutely. I and my opponents buy tanks regularly.
Recent example:
It was Russia’s turn and I wanted to prevent my opponent from driving in to East Poland with Germany and Italy, because from there he can go north or south.
I bought 6 tanks, 3 for Ukraine and 3 for Nov. He was then unable to get into East Poland and had to go Baltic States instead. I kept him out of the South through round 5, when he resigned.
Only tanks can move 2 spaces and attack at 3, which is much more powerful than mech infantry’s one.
Also, transports can only carry one non-infantry unit. The tank is the best one on offense and defense, so is the best unit even when taking islands.
Also, there are times when you are limited to purchasing 3 units at a factory and you need strength in ground units. Tanks are by far the best.
Also, it takes a tank to allow mech infantry to blitz, 1 for 1. No tanks, no blitzing with mechs. Few tanks, little blitzing with mechs.
Tanks are the only ground unit that can give the tac bomber its attack boost. If your power has lost a lot of fighters as casualties and tacs far outnumber fighters, this is especially significant.
Merely comparing the stats of move 2, cost 6, attack 3 and defend 3 with other units is to ignore an awful lot of considerations. Tanks have many advantages, and are definitely worth the cost of 6, even though it seemed unreasonable when the rule change first came out.
Thanks for resurrecting the topic, allweneed.