- Yes
- No
The Panzer III J1 is kinda disappointing at BR2, so I think it’s about time the tech tree got a slight upgrade.

To better serve the role of a dedicated tank dueler, the Panzer III L trades to J1’s smoke grenades for added 20mm of frontal armor, making it far more resistant to guns at its BR and making it so you don’t have to rely on the pitiful 50mm flat plate of the J1 if you want more firepower.
While serving as an upgrade to the J1, it also doesn’t completely eliminate the benefits of the premium Panzer III M. The M would still have a roof mounted MG, schurtzen, and smoke grenades, making it still a noticeable upgrade to anything you can get in the tech tree.