Well...to answer this simply:
A. Yes, you need the .rel files.
B. Call them st_customXX.rel, with XX being the custom stage number (starting at 00). This is hexadecimal (0A, 0B, 0C, etc.)
C. Doing pretty good, how 'bout you?
Question, though: Are you using Riivolution or the File Patch Code? If you're using Riivolution you have to define the custom stage files (the .rel and stage .pac) in your xml file.
A: Thanks for letting me know.
B: Do the same numbers apply to the .PAC files?
C: Not Bad...Trying to get used to VVBox, but that's another story...