I guess what I’m asking is what are the different functions of the two types of vehicles? Why can’t militaries combine them?
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Tanks are for moving protected firepower around a battlefield. It’s a big gun that goes where you need it and can resist quite a lot of attempts to stop it.
APCs are battle taxis, they move infantry faster than they can walk.
IFVs, which have largely replaced APCs, also move infantry faster than they can walk but have some heavier weaponry (usually a 20-30mm cannon and some ATGMs) so they can hang around and provide supporting fire.
Now, why not make an IFV that has tank armour and a tank gun? Because it would be heavy. Heavy means it can’t go as fast, and it takes more fuel so it can’t go as far or as often, and it’s probably going to break down more.
So unless your force is designed for defensive operations inside or close to your own borders where your logistics are at their strongest, the downsides of strapping all the extra armour and gun onto an IFV outweigh the benefits.
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