Well, I've just finished an epic week end of log splitting - I reckon I'm now sorted for burning season 2011 - 2012!
Yes, that middle axe is a Gransfors maul. It isn't too short (I'm 6'3"), and I do use a block - generally one of the rounds from whatever tree I am chopping up. I do all of the splitting next to the log pile, otherwise it is too much of a pain to restack the longs.
I was using both the lever axe and the maul, they make a brilliant combination. For a reasonably sane round (not completely knotted) the lever axe is the ideal tool, because you don't have to pick all of the bits up time and again. Imagine you have a big round - say 32" across. You dump it on the block, spilt it. You move both halves, then split them. Then you move 4 quarters, and split them. You might even move 8 eights, and split them. Then you pick the whole lot up and stack it. With the lever axe, you just keep splitting lumps off the round, no picking up until the end. The car tyre does the same sort of thing. That said, when you need brute force, reach for the maul.
The small axe in the picture is wonderful for making kindling - a one handed splitting axe. You can chop a lump into matchsticks in a few seconds.