For checking boolean config data it's more appropriate to use Mage::getStoreConfigFlag()
[link]. In this case, there's a hook to do just this purely in layout XML without the need to do a block class rewrite.
Configure a custom layout update file for your module, and in that file simply do the following:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<layout>
<checkout_cart_index>
<action method="setTemplate" block="checkout.cart.shipping" ifconfig="dropdownshipping/settings/enable">
<template>beckin/dropdownshipping/drop_down_shipping.phtml</template>
</action>
<action method="addCss" block="head" ifconfig="dropdownshipping/settings/enable">
<template>css/beckin/dropdownshipping.css</template>
</action>
</checkout_cart_index>
</layout>
As long as your module is also configured with <depends />
on the Mage_Checkout
this layout XML update will be merged in after the core instruction, thus overriding the core template.
The only reason to take the approach which you have taken is to thoroughly force that the template will be set to your module's template just prior to rendering - thereby overriding any potential conflicting layout XML instruction - assuming that there is no cache hit, a behavior which is ... debatable.