To answer your question in regards to the lowest numbered original profile. I will try.
Deep breath. Exhale. (it is confusing)
We have the following profiles:
And previously, there was a Pyke-20 (I don't remember the real ID number but for an example this purpose will work).
So, if we look at these, and do a little research, we find that the original and correct spelling is PIKE. From there, the first profile made with the correct name is Pike-49 (this after searching through Pik, Picke, Pyk and going through known spouses to locate perhaps other spellings and profiles), so I Project Protected the Profile (PPP) it to keep it stable while merges go through and for the project. If it didn't fit into a project, I remove the PPP once the merges are all completed.
All of the duplicates including Pyke-20 need to go directly into the lowest numbered, ie originally created profile that has the correct last name at birth. Even though it appears that since Pyke 20 has a lower number and ergo was probably created BEFORE Pike 49, it's the wrong last name, so merges are set up for 214 into 49, 52 into 49, 320 into 49, and Pyke 20 into Pike 49. Preferably not 214 into 52 and then into 49.
Okay, Deep breath. Exhale. Did that make any sense?
The technical reason for this (for those of you that have that question....why, what difference does it make...I should have been from the "Show Me" state too) is that each profile has a URL or http:// address associated with it that is unique. When a merge is completed, the software searches for the first URL and then redirects it to the one that it was merged into. Now, if that profile is merged, and merged again, and again, the software is redirecting multiple times to the final merged profile. Ever see that little circle running for a long time, and wonder what is going on? Probably multiple merges back and forth rather than into the final correct profile.
So, in conclusion, it may take a little bit more time to find the first profile (and if you need to protect it because of a bunch of duplicates, contact a supervisor at:http://http://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Special:Badges&b=supervisor ), but it will save all of us a great deal of time in the long run as we watch that little wheel going round and round.......
I would like to take a moment to personally thank Robin Kabrich-1 for asking this question.