Rob, if you can't see the connection between the base issue your talking about and the additon of dependent values and how it can help you, then I'm not sure what to say here.

When you code for the pre-dependent values you automatically have to code it that if the value of the field is null then the field is NOT displayed on the profile or whereever it applies. Thus, this eliminates your dilemna of the fields not being selected. Keep in mind that a Pre-dependent Values Table also requires additional see more work to the search files in order to get it all to work and this includes the null value item that we're talking about.