Martial Arts: Polearm/Quarterstaff/Weapon Adaptation

[simply Nathan]

Originally Posted by Toptomcat

but it doesn't help us answer the broader point of whether the parry bonus for staffs is inherent in the statline of the weapon or the description of the skill

Look at the statlines for the Two-Handed Sword skill. The same quarterstaff item is there with -1 to Thrust damage and no +2 to Parry.