Custom Content Type Column Order Ignored

I've created a custom content type that inherits the event content type.  I've ordered my columns on the content type  management screen, but when I actually create an item of that type, the columns are not ordered the same way.  Start date is *always* the last item.  I have tried making sure all the inherited fields from type event come first, in the same order as the event type, followed by my custom fields, to no avail.  Any suggestions?  Having Start Date be the last field is not accepaible - my users will never go for it!

I just tested the same scenario in my environment and it works just fine; something else has to be going on.  I have never seen this before.

I think that our environment is buggy.  We also have problems in a number of areas.  I have no idea if the problems are part of the sharepoint installation or the content and configuration databases.  We have uninstalled sharepoint, reinstalled and reconnected to the original back end databases but are still having problems.

Any recommendations for how to approach either cleaning up the existing environment or recreating and migrating?