> First, before I reply, could someone please point me in the direction
> of the instructions for creating the world from scratch (assuming source
> and current working binaries)?  I'd like to keep an up-to-date system,
> so I'm interested in a how-to document.

Assuming I've understood you correctly, what you want is:
# export DESTDIR=/some/alternate/root/path
# cd /usr/src/etc
# make distribution

(after having done a successful make in /usr/src, of course)

> On a positive note, I've noticed some substantial performance improvements
> in NetBSD/sparc between 1.0 and 1.1.

Yeah, no kidding.

--
Dan.