RE: LONG stroke vs. SHORT stroke (?????)
Few, if any, engines made after maybe the early 50's could be called a true long stroke. All engines now are so close to being "square" it makes no difference. Long stroke by itself doen't make for a "torquier" engine any more than a short stroke makes for a "peakier" engine. The difference in piston speeds (more correctly piston accelerations) is of no consequence because they're all running far below the maximum acceptable anyway.
Design wise, a shorter stroke would allow a slightly longer conrod to get a better length/stroke ratio without having too tall an engine but no manufacturer seems to do that.