The Sherman was an excellent tank.
They were reliable, effective, well made, and there were lots of them. Put a British 17lber on it, and it could shoot it out with Panther or even Tigers. Upgunned versions stayed in active service until 1960s.
The Chieftain makes the point that the Sherman was a great tank because is was part of an army. Solo combat at two kilometers on open terrain in clear weather is video game nonsense not the way the war was fought.
The Battle of Arrancourt illustrates the point. The Germans had local numerical superiority and tactical air cover was not an issue. The Germans lost 200 tanks and assault guns to American losses of 25 tanks and 7 tank destroyers. (Training and experience may have been telling. While the US 8th Air Force was busily killing the Luftwaffe’s experienced pilots prior to D-Day, the Red Army was beavering away killing Germany’s experienced tankers.)
He also asserts that there were only three instances of Sherman’s directly engaging Tigers. In one instance, the Tiger won, in one instance the Sherman won, and in the third instance, the Tigers were being loaded onto rail cars, so that didn’t count.
As to the Sherman being a death trap. From Normandy to VE-Day, 18% of the US infantry engaged were killed, v. 2% of the tankers, and about half of tanker fatalities occurred when they were outside the tank.