ATGMs aren't the driving factors behind tank losses, mines and drones are. Both of which generally immobilize the tank which then gets abandoned and finished off by drones exploiting hatches that were left open or artillery smiting the vehicle. Which is something the Merkava had to experience the hard way when it turned out to be inadequate to deal with drones upon October 7th and subsequent engagements.
My point wasn't that "all are equally bad" (especially as I'd generally argue they're all somewhat good at what they're supposed to do) my point is that tanks fundamentally encounter the same threats which exploit weaknesses which are intrinsic to the design of every tank currently in operation. And that as of now no upgrade package or new tank has addressed these emerging and/or persistent threats. That's mostly due to every tank currently in operation being the evolution of cold war designs which were never intended to encounter certain threats that exist today. And as a subsequent result I critiqued the notion certain popular outlets hold with regards to performance of individual systems when they're having a very hard time to adapt to the changing battlefield, with solutions still a couple years away. This applies to both sides of the entrenched tank connoisseur isle.
On a side note though, macroeconomics do not favor the M1 or any western tank whatsoever (although the M1 arguably does by far the best in the entire west, thanks to the former industrial prowess of the US). Especially with increased complexity, weight (and thus necessary changes to infrastructure and the logistical footprint) and inclusion of more and more subsystems with each new version, the increase in price leads to low production numbers at exorbitant prices which still display the same flaws earlier variants had. 105 Leopard 2A8s are a drop on a hot stone, 1050 would be more adequate but virtually impossible to finance for the Bundeswehr, to name an example.
Warfare is essentially applied economics. And sheer output can rarely be substituted for something else.
I know your points, that why I said you must provide your standing position. You should not come to a game forum and say all your scifi tank model are unrealistic, and should not come to a tank thread and say all tank are equal without providing further context. That is billion USD industry with people trying to improve design in everyway possible. Hardly equal in details. But I know your point.
The problem of macroeconmics military is also related to military industry complex. Basically, there are multiple military threats. The first threat is existent threat, basically nuke or something similar. Then there is geopolitical threat level, not existence crisis but power competition. The first fade off after the cold war, or can be accepted with mutal assured destruction. Now the second is more important, but with mulitpolar world, singulary power projection is not easy anymore. Let see Russia war in Ukraine, failed one side power projection without any significant achievement.
After that, its business, which military industry complex trying to make money. Nowaday, mostly this. So the more waste, the better. It's an open secret that everyone knows.
Yes, some people noticed the weakness you mentioned, but its business as usual. To exploit that weakness on a global scale is not easy. There are classical example of WW2, where Nazi and Japanese Navy exploited the weakness of the current system, but as long as the weakness is exploited, it triggerred the innovation of the losing side. The Soviet adapted to losing Barbarossa and the US adapted to Pearl Harbor.
So, yes, Leopard 2a8 or M1 or whatever, is not a real obstacle. Mind you, latest Leo2a7 is about 30mil a piece, that is not sustainable in a total war. But if someone somehow exploited it, not only tanks but airplane, hypersonic missle, ship.. etc based on tech or number or whatever, how much how long it can be exploited until something better come to adapt? The lesson from WW2 showed that.
So, yes, as the whole, it is still balanced, because, like game theory, you know anyone trying to exploited the weakness of the current system will be faced with the reaction of the whole system. And that is the main obstacle, not the tactical weakness.
But there are always players carelessly to game without calculation. I dont say it is bad, because of butterfly effect. Basically, any minor event can trigger a much larger chain reation with random or chaotic effect. So, nothing is unimportant. At least, a failed attempt will provide a good lesson.