So how exactly do light tanks work?

Draschel: Not if your goal is maximizing damage. With crew books available nowadays, recon+BIA+awareness are easily achievable. In addition, so is firefighting so food consumable can be run instead of extinguisher. Then you got +Bonus slot working using improved ventilation, 6% not 5. Then add in ventilation purge. With tier 10....contemplate purple ventilation. This is enough view range, as likely any tanks you are not spotting with that, you would not be 475m anyway. But the DPM, gun handling, accuracy benefits you gain are worth it, in dealing handy damage, especially in maps outside the breadth of camo/spotting/kiting