Actually, I've been wondering about that too, so I'd say it's a fairly good question.
I remember the early days with SH3 when you'd be handed a suitcase full of medals, ribbons, badges and inflatable toys every time you got home from a patrol which, I have to admit, was a bit much. At some point I was wondering if the giant mountains of metal the BdU needed to supply my crew with glitter wasn't putting a serious dent into the nation's war efforts. German industry could build a regiment of PzIVs if they melted down my crew's average medal haul after each patrol
It got more realistic as SH3 got modded every which way, thankfully.
On the other hand, the BdU does seem a bit stingy with recognition in SH5, but maybe it's just because I got spoiled by SH3. I will say, though, that if I have to choose between the "every return is Christmas" from SH3 and the "80,000BRT on your first outing? So what? Here, have an EK2 and stop whining already" approach of SH5, I'd still go with SH5.
