Also, for people that compile php themselves, would it help
to put a note that they need to use the version of phpize
found in the /install/path/php-version/bin/ directory, for
their particular version of php they have compiled, what
they want to use xdebug with? And that they will need to
copy this phpize (and related files) to a directory in the
search path, such as /usr/local/bin, so pear can find them?

You shouldn't have to copy anything. You can simply adjust your path
ofcourse. I will add an issue to my issuetracker so that I don't forget
putting this in the documentation.