General relativity (the bending space thing) described as the 2D rubber plane with the ball on it is a 3 dimensional representation of a 4 dimensional phenomenon, much like a drawing of a cube is a 2 dimensional representation of a 3 dimensional object. That's how I got my head around it, at least. Similarly, the description of space warping as a balloon is also a 3 dimensional projection of a 4 dimensional (theoretical) phenomenon.

General relativity is pretty well proven, but you're right, the mechanism behind it doesn't square with the quantum models that are out there, which are similarly well proven.

I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!