A standard driver shaft is 46" and cut to length from the butt after installing the head fitting, so being 1/2" longer or shorter doesn't really change the flex. If you just go with a shorter shaft it is typically cut from the butt, but some fitters will work with shafts that are "tipped", where they cut from the tip to slightly alter the flex or the profile and bend point. I have 2 driver shafts that were both tipped 1/2" but you can get into a pretty convoluted discussion about the ups and downs of tipping a shaft, so I leave that to the pros.

For general driver length shafts, the additional 1/2" does not affect actual stiffness of the shaft. Just like removing 1/2" won't either. In modern shafts there are tip / middle / butt sections. Trimming the butt doesn't affect flex (unless you whack 6" off the shaft of course), but trimming the tip will.

To answer your question: OEM installation will only "tip" the shaft if the shaft manufacturer recommends. Most wood shafts do not require tipping, but may require trimming for fairway use. You can request tipping on a custom order though.

Tipping and shortening shafts can engender some very Principle vs Preference discussions that will get very lengthy. I have two shafts for my TSi2 head. For courses under 6.2k yards I use a Silver Tini Kurokage that has been tipped and trimmed at the butt end to 44 Inches. It is a fairway finder. For courses longer than 6.2 k I use the Tensei Blue stock shaft that has not been tipped or trimmed. I get more yards and find about half of the fairways. It just my preference, and I am sure there principles about flex stiffening, soft feel, etc. But I digress......