I tend to disagree. The 88/L71 is great on the panther II, and the T-44 is still using the 100mm which is pretty much inferior in every way in comparison, and the LB1 only provides a ROF increase. The 88 can penetrate the T-44 and type 59 from every possible angle, and has enough punch to even damage IS-4s provided you shoot them form the side. The only armor it can't penetrate reliably are tier 9 frontal armors, but what are you doing slugging it out frontally with a tier 9 anyway? The rate of fire is pretty great as well, and after the alpha damage buff it's a lot better for PABs if it comes down to it.
You DO need to know soft spots and you DO need to know how to fight certain tanks. It's not a face roller like the IS-4. The tank, first and foremost, is a sniper. It's not as nimble as the T-44 so don't drive it like one. If a type 59 is beating you, you're doing something TERRIBLY wrong as you can pen him everywhere except the turret and have a superior ROF. And if he's hugging you, the copula is the way to go. 100% penetration guaranteed.
Brawling is not the tank's strong point, you should be keeping your distance, letting others spot for you and flanking with the great top speed.