Boiler8019, you and I see this completely oppositely. Perhaps different things work for different people.
If I acquire good general knowledge along the way, then cram near the end, that's optimum for me. I look at the cramming more like "getting in shape for a test" than acquiring knowledge.
If I'm going to create crib sheets, I'll do it as a last second review, a final pounding of the details into my skull. I think this is most of the benefit of having crib sheets anyway, at least for me.
Anyway, that's best for me.
For the Strl I, I started studying 4 months in advance, with my best subjects first. I figured that knowledge would be dulled the slowest. I didn't even make crib sheets, but it would've been a good idea. I didn't study bridges at all--just surrendered those points and used the extra time. That worked out well, but it was a little hair-raising to just drop those points.
I didn't study at all for the Strl II, which was probably smart. I never would've covered the crazy stuff they put on there, LOL. Either have seen it before and pass, or dead meat, LOL.