Front screw farmer tight, rear screw snug. That protocol has worked fine for about five generations, but now we need torque wrenches?
There are more materials used to make stocks now. That, and pillars, aluminum action bedding, etc. Some of these were uncommon or unknown back in the daze of the mostly wooden stocks. Torque wrenches used to be more common in the BR world, but virtually unknown with hunting rifles. That has changed. Time marches on.