Which Security Updates are needed for 10.3.9?

Question

Since 10.3.9 appeared, the following Security Updates have been released: 2005-05, 2005-06, 2005-07, 2005-08, 2005-09, 2006-01, 2006-02. Now I note that "Security Update 2005-008, Security Update 2005-009 and Security Update 2006-001 have been incorporated into [2006-02]."
But apparently 2005-05, 2005-06, and 2005-07 have not been incorporated into any later SU (so far as I can tell), so while I can delete 2005-08, 2005-09, and 2006-01 from my utilities disk, I have to keep the earlier ones to install before 2006-02?
It would seem to make sense to incorporate all the post-10.3.9 SUs into the latest one, instead of just the last three; anyone know why this hasn't been done?
Yes, I could erase the HD on my iBook and resintall 10.3.9 and use Software Update to figure this out -- but I've found that confusing as well, since Software Update doesn't mention some updates until the updates preceding them have been installed. You have to invoke Software Update over and over to get the complete picture. Not to mention that I don't particularly care to have to reinstall the whole System every time a new Security Update comes out and muddies the picture again.
The Apple security updates page just lists all the updates, without mentioning which of them incorporate/supersede earlier ones. Does anyone know if there's a way (such as an Apple KB article) to find out exactly which Security Updates are presently required with 10.3.9?

Answer 1

From my reading of the situation you describe there are several reasons that one update triggers another update. Sometimes the first update causes issues that were unforseen and they are fixed.
Sometimes the updates are solo because later updates cause problems for users and they wish to stop at a specific update (my take on this is that there is something wrong with their system and if the system was correct the updates would not cause problems)
Sometimes the updates are sequential because one update builds on another.
Sometimes updates are combined (as you wish would happen all the time).
Updates always give me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach because there have been a couple that have caused problems/revealed problems with my system that had to be tracked down.