I think it would make a lot of sense to maintain a "Changes-2.0.x"
file (or "Changes-2.1.x") for each version released that requires new
software. A global "Changes" file would also be useful. That way,
people who grab every other kernel could just check to see what was
new and people whoupgrade wholesale would have a place to check what
versions of everything they need. Alas, maintenance of this would be
difficult. Perhaps a single "NEWS" file which contains the diffs that
were applied to "Changes" for this version? *sigh* I'd much rather
have Linux writing code than fending of onslaughts of "Make/PS/PPP are
broken!" queries.
Adding a top-level "README_BEFORE_INSTALLING" file would be nice -
Documentation/Changes could be moved here or it could just be a
pointer to that file.
As a third thought, having "make config/menuconfig/xconfig" give a BIG
BOLD MESSAGE saying to read Documentation/Changes would be a Good
Thing(TM).
TTFN,
Sumner