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i just played my first 5th edition game this weekend (played TONS of third and about a half dozen 4th ed games). maybe my memory is going bad but the tanks feel less mobile now than they did before. heavy bolters aren't defensive weapons? that pretty much leaves only bolters and stubbers for the IG (which i was playing). it doesn't feel like adding those heavy bolter sponsons is worth it this edition as they'll only fire when your leman russ's battlecannon is destroyed AND you're stationary.

Speculation and/or rumor is that the Leman Russ might get some sort of 'multiple gunners' special rule that allows it to fire additional weapons when it moves.

Also consider that it's a couple more Weapon Destroyed results the tank can weather before it rolls up to Immobilized or Vehicle Destroyed.

Tank shots hit less hard due to the reasons you've stated, but with 5e LOS rules and vehicle survivability, tend to shoot much farther and for more turns.

Toss up.

in 4e, wasn't there a rule about priority targets? (you had to shoot the closest infantry or vehicle unless you passed a ld check?) i can see what sourclams means by LOS but how do they shoot farther? they are more survivable now. i was (pleasantly) suprised to see that vehicles now get a save just like infantry from cover. i guess the reason i ask is because i'm considering kitbashing my own version of a russ (already have 4 in different variants) but am not sure if i should spend the time/money in putting on sponsons. in 3e, it was a given. now, not so much. i do hope that IG gets some multiple gunners rule.

In 4e terrain blocked Line of Sight. If a player could build the dreaded 'terrain wall', your battle cannons suddenly had an effective shooting range of 18". Woo.

Now that tanks can see over stuff, they get to exploit their max range much more effectively.

Put on the sponsons. They cost such a minimal amount of points, and your AV14 tanks perform for much longer.