I don't understand what you mean by add the .cvsignore file itself to CVS. The CVS docs indicate that .cvsignore files are just for sandbox-side use. This seems much less clean than using something like the cvsignore file in the repository. However the docs don't show how to use cvsignore to ignore a pathname. The docs imply that you use cvsignore to ignore patterns matching on the basename.

The links I gave don't say much beyond I use this directory structure, not much in the way of justification, experiences or alternatives. Likewise O'Reilly's Applying RCS and SCCS, by Bolinger & Bronson. Most of the version control texts I've seen related to compiled code.

Perhaps in learning one lesson I suspect there are more hidden traps where none exist. Maybe this wheel is just round and it matters not its size, bearings, material, width, tread shape, tread material, balance, toe in, camber, heat limits, maximum speed rating, maximum load rating, wear rating etc.