I figured I would add my two cents. I have done three-ways every whichaway at different times at different companies, everyone has their preference on which to make them up. Mine, which actually wasn't mine, I just found it was the best method that made the most sense to me, was simply having the hot, switch-leg, and 3-wire in one device box and then go from there with just a 3-wire to the other end of the 3-way, or even to a 4-way(s) in the middle. It makes trouble shooting easier and it also makes life more bearable when you're trying to introduce this concept to a helper with a little bit of green left on them before trying to explain the other methods for wiring 3-way switches.