Exaggerated for sure but in essence you are correct.  The main thing is to make sure you have included all essential variables.  There are tables and text in the applicable code that give you your essential and non-essential variables.  Then, in the sample forms you can see other items that you may or may not choose to include as well.

For example, on my WPS's I include some notes on the reverse side, or page two depending upon how one prints it up, that gives information about preheat, materials, and other items that I want more info than there is room for on the face of the WPS.  I also include a larger image of the joint there than what will fit in the little space on the face of the form. 

On welders certs, I take their picture and often will copy their driver's license or some form of ID and put their picture in space at the top right so their is no mistaking the welder standing in front of you is a match for the certification paper he presents to you.  Pictures are becoming a very real part of all of our work for solid verification.  Someone will obviously shout 'racist' one of these days but I don't care one bit about race, sex, illegal or legal at this point, it is all about making sure the welder is truly qualified to do the work and that someone else didn't provide the papers and fake ID.  Picture on the cert must match the face under the hood.  All other information is up to the employer, the police, and ICE. 

There are many instances where the sample forms don't provide all the information needed for the work at hand.  It can be taken care of with extra notes as mentioned above.  It can be done by modifying the form.  It can be done any way that works for your situation. 

The form is basically a 'list' as you called it.  Just outlined in a way that gives everyone a basic standard form that details what needs to be on that list according to the current codes.

He Is In Control, Have a Great Day,  Brent