These stocks were designed for alpine mountain hunting (Chamois/Gemson) for the amount of handling needed when climbing, also when using them as a walking stick up steep slopes, as was the shorter barrel; for ease of manouvering.
In truth, if you try hunting in the mountains where you actually have to do some climbing you will soon see why, they are practical. The idea that the mannlicher style stock was aesthetically pleasing probably only came long after the rifle itself become so popular I suspect. Mauser also made the same stock at the same time for the same reason.

(Out of interest, the German Alpine troops adopted a carbine with a 17 inch barrel, that also had a steel plate on one side of the stock - to protect the butt when the rifle was used as a climbing stick. I think it was a Brno G33/40)