@ned.reif, forget about it, you’re only to blame 1%. And me myself another 1% for missing your original thread. The rest (98%) is to blame on how the forum seems to work.
My answers are most likely covered by other posters in your other thread.
Thanks for bringing this up. Now see what @sjdorst gets as response in: What happens to replies when the thread originating post is deleted by the OP/Moderator/Administrator?
As @john_drivenupthewall mentioned, you can sort of end a current thread by ticking “Solved”. Or just add a post saying "end of thread > see: “other thread…” "or something similar if given answer isn’t the desired solution.