A2 is 13 5/8” length of pull, same as most full size bolt rifles. I’m 6’4” so anything shorter than that feels like a toy
All my "military" bolt guns (and actually, "all" my long guns) have that same basic LOP as the autos, around 13".
The newer commercial bolt guns (generally from the late 60's, early 70's on), have a longer LOP, and a lot of that is due to the add on recoil pads that seem to be the norm these days. Their stocks in general are also built different than the pre-early 60's rifle stocks. The older guns had stocks set up for iron sights, with a lower comb. They also usually came with steel and later, plastic butt plates, and that same, shorter LOP.
I think a lot of that is based on how people tend to hunt and shoot these days, and also with what they learn on. Just look at how many seem to think the .308 or 30/06 is a heavy recoiling gun.
The shorter stocks work much better for shooting from field positions and reactive type shooting, especially those without a recoil pad.
The longer stocks tend to be more comfortable/easier to shoot from a bench or rest, and generally suck for trying to shoulder and shoot them quickly. The recoil pad adds to the aggravation on the last part. Add winter/bulkier clothing to the equation, and things just continue to get worse.
Size of the person and length of the arms really isnt an issue if you shoulder the rifle properly. I think a lot of the problem is how you were taught to shoot and what you learned on. Its pretty easy to tell when you see someone shoulder a rifle and where their head is on the stock.
We learned on old military guns and from field positions. The rifle is pulled tight into your shoulder and your head is down and forward on the stock with a good cheek weld (think "nose to the charging handle" if you learned to shoot the M16's properly.) With the iron sights those rifles come with, your eye is properly aligned with the sights.
If you watch people who learned on a newer bolt gun, especially one with a scope, they usually hold their head up and back when they shoot. Not forward and down, where they belong.
If you really want to see an exaggeration of this, watch someone who learned to shoot on one of those type stocks, try and shoot an AK. Most times, they usually hold their head up and back, trying to get a cheek weld on the rear "comb" of the stock, instead of getting the cheek weld up at the "wrist" of the stock, by the trunion, with their head down and nose at, or along the top cover.
Trying to shoot the gun in the first instance, and it feels awkward and "short", and the sights don't naturally line up.
Shoot the later, and the gun shoulders naturally, "feels" right, and the sights are right there and lined up when you do.
For me, thats the same with the M16 and AR's with the A1 stocks, as well as most other rifles and shotguns I have, that have that same LOP. That extra 5/8" with the A2's (or anything else with those longer LOP's), silly as it might seem, instantly feels "off", and throws things off. The longer the stock, the worse it gets too.
It would be interesting to hear who learned on what and how, as well as how they normally shoot, and what they prefer as to how the gun is stocked.
Im betting the "static" shooters tend to prefer the longer stocks, and the "reactive" and/or "field position" shooters, tend to prefer the shorter.