For me the only role a tank plays in CloD is bomb bait. A target for my plane, nothing more. If it is AI or some poor sod sits in it doesn't matter to me anyway. I will not play as a tanker, when I could fly a warbird. Simple as that.
And when the human tankers realize they are at the mercy of the IL2s, Stukas, JU-88s hopefully later on the Jugs, Typhoons and Tempests they will quit the game real fast.