Thanks. :-) I'm going to redo my starter RNGs on HGSS with this info. Now that I know the trick is to advance before going in, I can do some tests and see what I can get.
I use an M3 DS, which runs the ROM on the DS, so I play the game the same as a retail version. I don't even have working save states, so yeah, I'll be cursing NPCs for a few days, lol.