HE isn't the problem, gold is

Draschel: By saying crutch, a person very likely means, leaning on something. By saying training wheels, it is meant using an assisting aid, to help you do something.So, in the example provided, the person isn't taking the time to deal expected damage. Rather is taking a no-skilled approach to aim in the direction, for contact rather than precision, in the hopes of dealing any sort of damage rather than 750. This annoys everyone, the person who has superior position and is ready to fire at the person poking to fire, who is positioned defensively, who can better use armor but instead the armor is negated by HE, and good players too  -  who see the opportunity as wasted to deal 30% damage instead of 100.  Shooting a hull down tank is situational. If you have absolutely, 9 times of 10 nothing else to do, or are too far away for provided assistance elsewhere on the map  -  HE into something hulldown can work. For instance, Jag Panzer E100 is too slow to go anywhere fast, or T95  -  as such no problem spamming the turret of IS7 or Chieftain with HE for 300-400. That opportunity cost can be afforded. But even a medium tank like Chimera or Ravioli, shouldn't be wasting time to deal a 75 damage HE hit, as even they can be utilized somewhere else more effectively. Not to mention the return risk. Oh,  no one is mentioning or means HE penetrations. Different altogether.