The factory does need a proper Scorcher counter, and relying on Panther hasn't really worked (It becomes a monoculture unit if it's that good).
I've always wanted a riotier Kodchi, but the Koda would have to be changed a LOT before it started countering the Scorcher.
I'm not sure a unit as slow and still fairly costly as Banisher will work, but I totally understand Lauri's explaination here, and he knows tank fac. If the factory needs a skirm we can look at re-rolling Pillager a bit since it has tremor, though I know they do very different things.
I always intended Banisher to have flex-AA capacity, BTW, esp vs gunships.
If we really love Panther, Koda, Banisher and Pillager all in their current roles too much (any one of them could be made into a proper, slower, AoE based riot) then we can add another unit. The tank models are easily kitbashed.