Well I don't know what Specialized is doing but it must be something to do with tube angles. If I was to take my Rambouillet 54cm and make it a 48 instead with 700 wheels, there would be major toeclip going on (unless maybe I got tiny feet to match it). Since you had to shorten the stem, maybe that indicates they are not shortening the top tube all that much, which would then explain the non clipping. But then they'd have to be making the bike shorter height-wise to accomodate the shorter rider of 5'2". Maybe they are moving the head tube lower down to increase standover height and allow for shorter riders? Fascinating to speculate, wish I was more knowledgable to figure it out through bike geometry charts. I bet DebW could.