This kind of ties in with Uncle John's Graduation discussion I guess. 

I'm finding that all the time I spend on my quest for good acoustic tone and volume by leaving a space between the through neck and soundboard sometimes goes to waste. After they are strung up for a while ( years maybe?) the soundboard just bends till the bridge and soundboard are now resting on the neck.

In some cases, this has actually improved the playability by lowering the action but on others that already had low action, it results in "fretbuzz".

So it looks like I may need to "Graduate" to the advanced stuff like bracing or maybe even making my own boxes or soundboards.

Do you folks think bracing helps with tone/volume or does it just result in a strong top that no longer vibrates much due to the bracing since that adds mass and weight to the soundboard? I know it is essential on full sized guitars but on the small area of a CBG.

I wonder if a small block between the bridge and neck would be better, worse or about the same as bracing. A block or a screw or something sure is a lot easier.