the example fstab for the 1.4 gentoo cd contains partition labels, but the explanation text has no information on how to set up labels on partitions. Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. read the documentation, look for e2label 2. 3. Actual Results: /etc/fstab will not work as given, unless e2label is used to change the label on the partition. Expected Results: add a section on using e2label, or add a section on using /dev/hda1, etc, entries in fstab this will stump a newbie. e2label didn't work as expected with me either, and I had to change /etc/fstab to point to the /dev entries to get a good boot.
Per the install guide: Use something like the /etc/fstab listed below, but of course be sure to replace "BOOT", "ROOT" and "SWAP" with the actual block devices you are using (such as hda1, etc.) So those are not meant to be partition labels and that fstab is an example only. You are correct that it won't work verbatim, but it's not supposed to. Your /etc/fstab should reflect the block devices the partition you are using reside on, /dev/hdaX etc, as instructed.
Are you sure he doesn't mean Redhat style LABEL=/ / ext3 noatime 0 0 Which only works for ext2/ext3 partitions? (Hence, e2label)