Steve,

Have you taken a look at the SQL Server Health and History tool to provide some change management?  The Reporting Services reports detail exact patches, configuration changes and software that is on the server.  I have just started to use this tool, but it certainly supports your premise that the details are best left out of the official documentation.  However, the reports could be printed and taken off site once a week.  Just a thought...

Here's the link to download the SQL Server Health and History tool: