Here's a good place to talk about such things:
http://www.steelsoldiers.comI spent most of my time there (and still spend some) prior to buying our '54. Military vehicles are an awesome hobby and share a lot in common (from a restoration standpoint) with our stovebolts.
As far as the topic at hand, I don't know why they couldn't serve both purposes (versatility and security). I'm sure tread-marks were not a keystone in the security strategy of the armed forces, but every little bit helps. Imagine some enemy scouting party coming across a single set of tracks traveling in a straight line. They probably wouldn't have the time or inclination to follow these tracks forever to find a turn or other evidence so, any confusion you can cause might save someone's life.
