If you talk to Aaron from Lahar he'll say GT copied his first bikes when they started their gearbox program. Could be possible but its probably a good thing since GT are now bring the technology to the masses.good question? i'm not sure if Busby was the Original designer of the gear box?....as far as i know it was built before i got on GT in 98.
i remember walking into that area and seeing the bike and i couldn't hold my grin...i was so stoked to be on GT and then to see all these proto bikes like a gear box bike was awesome.
As for shortening the boxxer WC its just a couple of spacers clip onto the shaft under the air piston in the negative chamber. Most air forks make it pretty easy to reduce the travel