"Could part of the reason these 2 were dropped be a) they simply were not involved in any of Samsung's product line at the time of the filing against them or b) for a future arrangement between the parties, or c) both?"

IMO....going after and proving the sophistication, or lack of, was not important....there are other points to gain first. I say this, because that is the course of the current case.

Cart before the horse as they say....claims issues regarding 108 and 445 were conditionally laid to rest in concluding that case.

The issue of their validity is still open for debate between the two.

doni