Displacement is the main ingredient of torque, longer stroke don't automatically mean more torque, bigger bore (surface area) of the 440 equals more force in the 1st place to be multiplied by crank.
Well there's plenty of variables for sure! And you are correct that nothing is "automatic." But if the displacement is the same/close, stroke will win in the torque dept.
Keep in mind that OEM's do all of the initial work on a new engine via computer analysis, and when we wanted to make a higher torque engine, the first thing we look at is stroke. We could (and did!) run myriads of ways to make more torque or power. Yes, the increased displacement due to stroke will also get a little more power too but torque is the main thing. With the same combustion system (ports/chamber/cam), the indicated power for the increased stroke will go up due to the displacement/increased breathing. And at the lower torque peak rpm's, when you subtract off the higher friction power due to the longer stroke/piston speeds, you still get a bunch more torque. But push those speeds up to the power peak area, and when you subtract off the higher friction power (function of piston speed squared), it takes a bigger bite out of the higher indicated power hence why the peak power does not go up as much when you stroke an engine. Peak torque yes, peak power not as much. Lots of variables and nothing is automatic hence why so many hundreds of combinations are evaluated.
I could give you examples but I don't get into which OEM I worked for so I'll just leave it at that. :thumbsup: