(disclaimer: I'm a CG)
I agree with pictures of the rack...I always take pictures after doing the job right and post them next to the equipment. I find that if people think someone else gives a heck, then they are more likely to do it right.
As for patch panel vs. non-panel, I'd say it depends on the environment. But doing it to save money is probably almost always foolish. What does a patch panel cost? Compare that to a 66 block. What does a 6 foot patch cable cost? What does 6 feet of cross connect cost?
(that said, I really like VoIP - but it sure ain't cheap, and it needs people who actually understand how it works - who are thus hard to find and expensive to hire; you definitely don't save money this way!)
