Sorry I hadn't got back here for so long. Must have forgot to put notifications on. I'm using AutoCAD LT 2015... which might be why I can't set the system variable SELECTLASTMODE. Others in my office are using the full AutoCAD version (not LT) and do have access to the system variables...
Does anyone remember when copy last or move last (etc.) selected the last (most recently drawn) object within the limits of the viewing screen instead of the entire modelspace or current layout? Is there still a command to use this definition of 'last' ... or maybe a script, etc...