I think tanks need to be 5x as strong for 5x the cost so it takes a team of av to kill it but when it's lost you will be heartbroken and crying.

Same for lavs too!

Here is how money goes for tanks:

1 standard tank with meta 3 (or 5 for maddies) modules and a proto turret runs about 1,400,000 ISK. This level of gear is necessary, as any less tank or damage, and survivability plummets exponentially, but that's another topic entirely. (about 600k ISK more than last build)

An average payout per match is usually around 250,000 ISK, unless the other team calls in mad vehicles.

That means I need to make a tank last 6 matches or I go negative. Now, there are a couple ways of reducing cost: AURUM tanks/turrets (1,200,000 ISK reduction) or to redline snipe the entire game.

Assuming that people do not want tanking to be a p2w experience, then tankers are confined to redline sniping if they want to make a tank last 6 rounds because no matter how good a tanker is, one of those six matches is going to end with getting spammed with AV the second you get on the frontline.

My current proposal is not a nerf or buff to the tanks, but a price reduction. Sure, I'd love to have God Mode, but I just don't see it happening. Reducing the cost of vehicle hulls, modules, and turrets by 50% would help tankers and dropship pilots out, immensely, without making them any more powerful. Cheaper tanks means more opportunity to kill them because tankers will be more inclined to get into AV range, as losing one isn't a big deal.

Cheaper tanks means more opportunity to kill them

a terrifying symbol of wealth and power that only the best can pilot and only the richest corps can afford, but are win buttons??? :)
Well if you want to buff tanks then I can live with the current price :D
I think every tanker can live with having win buttons :D
You, sir, are my new favorite person! (no trollin)

to me, win button implies guaranteed victory with no skill. imho to fully utilize the tanks power you should need a lot of skill and careful coordination with infantry. and not being cost efficient means they can and will be popped, even if you are a good driver. sounds familiar?

do corps pull tanks in pc battles today? yes. so i submit the best players in the game believe they are currently effective at producing victories. are they cost efficient? as your op states, no. so while i wouldn't mind a small tank buff, but based on the above criteria i don't think they need one. all I'm saying is changing them to be cost efficient would throw off this balance. it'd be tank spam all day.

also i think before we talk about too many buffs they should bring back surie and sag, and release PRO tanks. you're clearly interested in high end performance, but you only have STD to project your desires into. if there is a win button, it definitely shouldn't exist as a 200k maddie.