Reinstalling Tiger: Software Update Missing Many Updates

Question

I've seen a few similar topics on this issue, but only in so far as Software Update missing an update here or an update there. I am currently reinstalling Tiger on a Power Macintosh G3 B&W that has been heavily upgraded. The system specs are as follows..
1GHz PowerLogix G3 (using MAChSpeed to enable full processor speed since the included CPU Director software won't work in 10.4.11)
1GB of RAM
128MB Radeon 9200 Graphics card connected to an LG 1952 display and set to 1440x900 / millions of colors
I'd go on, but the remainder of the hardware upgrades should have no effect on Software Update to the best of my knowledge. Previously I had this machine running 10.4.11, and through the Software Update program I had installed all of the recommended updates, which included numerous security updates, Safari 4.0.3, and iTunes 8.2.1. Everything was running perfectly smoothly, but after having tested several software configurations and having decided on one in particular, I set out to reinstall Tiger from scratch in order to keep things as clean as possible. I've tried several different times now with the same results each time. Once the system is up and running, regardless of whether or not I install MAChSpeed before or after running Software Update, Software Update simply does not provided all of the updates that I believe are actually there. It did see and did allow me to install the following updates..
10.4.11 Combo update (I installed this one separately before any other updates)
Java 1.3.1 and 1.4.2 Release 2
iTunes Phone Driver 1.0
Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update
Quicktime 7.6.4
Security Update 2009-005 (PPC)
J2SE 5.0 Release 4
Java for Mac OS X 10.4, release 5
[ditto], release 6
[ditto], release 7
[ditto], release 8
[ditto], release 9
Unless Security Update 2009-005 is meant to be a combined security update (doubtful), there are obviously several security updates that are missing. Also, I'm surprised that Software Update saw and installed Quicktime 7.6.4 but didn't see or install the latest PPC versions of iTunes or Safari. Safari 4.0.3 as I understand requires Security Update 2009-002, so naturally it would not see or install Safari without that update being installed first. While I don't necessarily mind installing updates manually (downloading them individually off Apple's support site and then installing by hand), I really prefer using Software Update to better automate the process. Up until now I have never had any problems with Software Update, but this problem is certainly aggravating. My primary concern is that I have no idea what updates are necessary and what updates are not necessary to ensure proper and relatively secure operation of my system, and I have no way of knowing whether or not Software Update will see any future updates (provided that Apple continues to support Tiger for a little while longer). If Software Update is missing crucial updates out of the gate, how can I be sure that it will see any further crucial updates that may hopefully be released?
I know that's part question / part rant, but I've been wracking my brain for the past few days over this one. Any information that could help solve this problem will definitely be appreciated, especially since my B&W is my preferred browsing machine.
Incidentally, my iBook, a Clamshell FW SE, is currently running the same setup that my B&W was previously running.. 10.4.11 with Quicktime 7.6.4, iTunes 8.2.1, and Safari 4.0.3, so as far as I can tell, this shouldn't be hardware related (my iBook is far less powerful than my B&W currently is). Also, a cursory glance at the Installed Updates list on my iBook definitely shows that my Software Update on my B&W is missing many updates.

Answer 1

I reformatted the drive first and did a clean install. I'm currently in the process of downloading the standalone installers for Safari 4.0.3 and iTunes 8.2.1. It's looking like that's the solution at present, but I'm still curious as to why Software Update won't see any iTunes or Safari updates within the current system configuration's capabilities (speaking to both apps possibly being cumulative). I can't see Software Update simply not having those updates because there is newer version out, if indeed they are cumulative, since that would mean that anyone reinstalling or upgrading on an older machine would be forced to perform some of the updates manually where not too long ago they would have been able to simply use Software Update as a "one stop" solution.
Oh well, maybe I'm just being too picky . I've had to deal with running around in circles to find software updates for manual installs for years with Windows systems, and Apple's "one stop" Software Update system was a wonderful, welcome change to that.