Kernel compile the old way

[Ed <ejbr@comcast.net>]

I went to compile a vanilla kernel from kernel.org, and so read the 
directions at the Debian site.  They seem to me to be needlessly 
complicated.  Is there something in Debian which would prevent me from 
compiling a kernel the good old fashioned way --

make menuconfig
make && make modules_install
cp bzImage and System.map to /boot
edit the grub menu

-- and skip the initrd whatever?  And, if so, where does Debian load the 
modules from, so I can edit that too?  It's not /etc/modules - only a 
few there.

Any advice appreciated.  Thanks.