A muzzle break without a doubt will reduce recoil. You'll see porting more on shotguns especially for guys that shoot Trap and Skeet a lot to aid in muzzle jump. Trap and Skeet gunshave a higher comb and hit you in the face a lot harder.

I can't imagine anyone shooting a rifle with a break on without wearing hearing protection. If you use something like the electronic Peltor muffs I see them being more of aid in hunting than a handicap. They actually amplfy sound like the Walker Game Ear and once you make the shot it mutes all audio for a split second. As far as POI change I cant say that I have noticed a change. I like to shoot in at the range with the brake screwed on and the take it off for Hunting. Of course the guys sitting beside you at the range arn't going to be happy at all!