Well you are right Bill about not having to alter the stock if you use the punch method. I've used that method a few times and its tricky at least for me. You invariably put some downward pressure on the top lever which forces it up so you end up having to tap the top lever up (actually down if the gun wasnt inverted) all while leaning into a screwdriver to force the top lever into the hole. Like David said the Hunter Arms guys did this day in and day out and Im sure it was easy for them.
There are many methods people have developed to complete this part of the assembly I.e the jig method, using a threaded rod (I broke a threaded rod in the top lever trying this method talk about a pucker factor) and others.
I guess the point is to try a method your comfortable with if you ever take one completely apart.