HELP: Duplicate copies of apps shown in Mobile Application Folder

I've poured over the "interwebs" and this forum searching for an answer, and to my surprise... I haven't found one yet! Unreal! Especially when you consider how many people have begged for a solution.
Essentially, the problem is this:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=546769
OR... if you don't feel like clicking on the link... Here is a picture:
It appears that every time an application gets updated, it creates a sequential copy of the previous one, leaving your iTunes/Mobile Applications folder filled with unneeded versions, thus increasing the size of the folder needlessly.
I found that highest numbered file is the newest, and that deleting all of the others, then renaming the existing file from IAMNINJA 6.ipa to IAMNINJA.ipa doesn't necc fix the problem because then iTunes has to be redirected to the newly renamed file. That's a LOT of work if you have a lot of apps!!
It just bothers me that I have an app folder that is 13.5 gigs in size, and could probably be cut in half!
It also bothers me that I don't think you can move that directory to a different drive? I'll have to research that one.
So, does anyone have any idea what the solution to this is??? Or are we to just live with it?
Thanks!
Jason
Message was edited by: Count Rockula

Hey TT...sorry for the long delay in following up. But you were right on the money! I ONLY download app's via my iPod because I have two iMac's... one at home and one at work. And early on, I found that unless iTunes sync set up exactly between the two computers, my sync's would be off, games removed, highest record in the world gone, etc.
So, my work around was to always manage my app's on the device and NEVER sync app's via iTunes. However, I "transfer purchases" all the time, just to make sure each computer has the same app's on it, but never sync.
So, this is why I'm seeing so many duplicates! Your answer was right on the money! Look like I can safely delete any of the renumbered ones. I don' think I need to worry about pointing iTunes the correct version, because I never use iTunes to sync app's.
If I only had one computer, then sure. But this is the only way that I can think of to make sure my device stays the way I want it, and avoid a sync messing it up.
Thanks!
Jason

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