Does a cheekpiece act to raise or lower the effective drop to comb, or is it just another extraneous Prussian or European feature?
I wouldn't quite term it like that, although, I might tend to agree with you on the Tirolerschaft or Wienerschaft/Viennese style stock at first glance at one. But when you shoot a Austrian/German target for a bit you come to expect it. Otherwise, I believe the Austrian and Bavarian to be a bit more angular than the often referred to "pancake" German style. If the gun fits you, when you feel the cheekpiece touch you cheek, you instinctively squeeze off a round. I guess a lot of it could be attributed to personal preference.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
