funny I've gone through the fridge sample myself. However I choose the path in between the two solutions: yes just flowing and tertris'ing your stuff definitely costs less time, but I soon discovered it would drive me mad after a while because I couldn't find things quickly. Not because they were unreachable, but becasue they were in a different place every week or so. Which is hard if like me, the autistic side of your brain likes to have things always in the same place just because that way of organising undeniably gives you the fastest way to get something back. So now I still go with the tetris way, but to make it more convenient afterwards (and to make the game more interesting, lol) there are now categories.

Anyway long story short: you are 100% right and the OP's story is a fine read but too general. Which is often the case on the net.