Yes, the pic with the original stem is fully inserted.
Why was it done that way? To fit everything into the available space. More about that in a sec.
Besides sporting "shine blasted" execution (no crisp lines), the stem was a square-sided block over .2" thick (seriously?) and made of acrylic (which the owner hated as a categorical thing).
"If possible, make it look like one of those elegant pipes in Pete's century-old catalogs that has a tapered stem. And use rubber. And make it brindle... because I effin' like brindle," said the owner.
It was possible.
To fit all the pieces-parts and keep the shank/stem gap looking authentic when assembled, the tenon and the condenser widget had to be shortened by about a millimeter each. Kinda cheatin' but kind of fun to get away with, too.
