Haha, I couldn't agree with you more that I wish it were just one certain way. They say on the Immigrant's Guide to have the Relationship Proofs in a certain order on the checklist, though it appears no one does it that way (i.e. having it in its own folder: Relationship Proofs)
What throws everything off really is that in the Sponsor/Partner Questionarre they ask you for everything you'd throw in the timeline (with underneath saying: see this proof, see that proof, etc.) and then they ask for the Relationship Proofs... another spot to say the exact same thing you said in that form.
You're very right in that everyone has done it in a million different ways and been approved (or rejected) regardless of organization. I'm just trying to figure out the best way for the IO to understand the application all put together... it's hard when you're biased as it's your relationship. =]
I suppose I will just throw the timeline at the back of the Sponsor/Partner Questionarre as a "Development of the Relationship" and reference the proofs. Hopefully that makes the application understandable. I plan on keeping my Relationship Proofs in chronological order as I feel it makes the most sense that way in our situation. Followed by "Communication", "Joint Funds", "Western Unions", "Support Letters", etc. I'm still fine tuning ;-)