"BigsStick"
"Deja"oh jeebus those field target setups look retarded
While the piece shown above is beautifully machined, I have to agree. At what point does it stop being about the shooter, and become more about the contraption?
Depends on the discipline and same could be said about many, many products you have or use in your daily life; consider all the shooting disciplines, and I'll mention a few:
a) Benchrest (air / rimfire / large caliber air or powder burners)
b) Field Target (air)
c) ISSF - 10m Olympic air rifle (air)
d) ISSF - 50m Rimfire
e) Long Range / big calibers (large caliber powder burners)
etc..etc..etc..
Each disciplines has it's set of rules what's permitted/ not - and the big manufacturers tailor their stock/ action combo accordingly..and per local country laws.
If Its general airgunning - from Hw100 , AA S400/410 /510 , AirForce, Marauder, numerous bullpup brands , all available powers & calibers, single or multi shot, etc...then I suppose the development remains as is...in the general sense...and a group of users/customers like it that way...
Exception being electronic triggers as found on Daystate , or some form of new development from Edgun or Steyr H5A (semi auto). Purist say..the electronic trigger is not their cup of tea...as it feels 'dead' and the bond is lost between shooter and gun, so rather have mechanical springer or PCP trigger (ruling out costs). Some others look down on the Steyr H5A as saying "What's the point ?" and " I wouldnt buy one...so you shouldnt own it either.." (from a cynical British anti semi auto group with an axe to grind & protectionist cartel like agenda - nb: they are now legally called "Self Indexing")
Same thing with users choice of Thumbhole, versus classic hold ...laminate or wood, versus alu stock....or vertical grip grip versus offset grip...and it goes on...all ergonomics, and down to personal choice/preference...which is subjective.
Origins of S rear butt This rear butt lateral S contraption is actually available on the Feinwerkbau 800 Olympic air rifle...which is now available as a 16 J / 11.5 Ft/lb Field Target model...Its all part of "Ergonomics" to fit the shooter... >>
http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/precharged-pcp/feinwerkbau-fwb-800-x-field-target-15-ft/lbs/ Steyr S link Development by a company or smart entrepreneur who spots a gap on the market to allow the shooter a better more precise shot at a metal silhouette aint a bad thing..the market will be the judge ultimately if bought in, or rejected by the group for which it is intended for - Either the product sells like hotcakes or fails miserably....but no way will any Field Target guys scoff at this rear butt stock made by a entrepreneurial guy as It is self evident what a FT user gains & benefits from having it...scores may improve for most; some will stay the same; a few won't like it & will sell onward...
NB: by this time next year - I predict at least 70% of existing Steyr LG110 owners will have this or some variance of it - in all /any WFTF event..
Final Thought The day when you use your iphone fixed to the scope with inbuilt range finder, and the user fires the darn thing from a tripod or bench rest via their 2nd iphone will of course be the day - when Its all about a contraption ...It would indeed be a sad day for some, but then on the other hand, another bunch of you are probably saying "Cool ! can't wait to try this out with a R/C Steyr H5A set up" ...Remember Bruce Willis in TheJackal ? - Now that is a
contraption... 
