How impactful is range?

[SangoProduction]

In SoM, the Technician has a Hook and Pulley gadget which says the following:

Hook and Pulley
The technician may create a gadget that allows him to manipulate objects from a distance. (...)

Alternately, the technician may use this gadget to attempt a drag, trip, disarm, or steal combat maneuver at a distance. Performing a maneuver from a distance in this fashion does not provoke an attack of opportunity (except as normal when making a ranged attack), but requires the technician to succeed on a ranged touch attack against the target first before the maneuver may be attempted.

Let's ignore the daily limit on invention usage, and the doubtless MAD that'd happen if you tried to make a combat maneuver based Technician.

How much of a difference to the viability combat maneuvers does adding 20 ft of range make?

[legomaster00156]

Well, one obvious benefit is being well out of range of AoO's from any Medium-sized creature, and generally Large ones as well.

[Vaern]

If you use a readied action to make a trip attempt against foes that enter your reach, that 20 foot range becomes a nicely sized control zone.
Against a flying target, assuming you can't fly yourself, any degree of range becomes invaluable. Depending on how your DM handles tripping a flying target (I don't know of there are written rules for it), you may be able to hilariously ground your opponents and maybe the encounter much easier for your group.

[Fizban]

Well, I'd ask how much difference it makes for the spiked chain reach++ builds. Seems to be pretty important to them, so I'd expect it does a lot. The exact effects depend on what sort of foes you like/want to use, since that determines how useful a 20' control zone is. Another question is how it will interact with enlargement and other size or reach boosters.

[Florian]

How much of a difference to the viability combat maneuvers does adding 20 ft of range make?

That's pretty powerful, especially when paired with Agile Maneuvers to use them based on DEX. Trip with that range is basic battlefield control and on par with a reach weapon Fighter and Enlarge Person, Drag is actually the powerful option here, by pulling (flying) targets next to a full attack based class or into a flaking position.

[stack]

Terrain makes a big difference as well. The forced movement is more useful if you have lava, narrow ledges, traps, etc. instead of empty floor.