Q: can you combine call log entries from a single contact into 1 call log entry

No.

If the calls are within a few minutes, it will automatically combined.

No.

JDB0311 wrote:

 

Who ever wrote the phone app for the iphone must not have very many people call them!, and should have thought this through!

You would be surprised that's not the case.

Recent list is limited to 100 calls in a moving window, and if all the calls from that contact is in a single list and got automatically deleted, what then? 

Do you really get 100 calls in that short a period of time? You must talk a lot!

Note that your carrier will have a history of all calls for at least 18 months. You can view it on their website.

No.

3rd party apps don't have access to private iPhone APIs for security reasons which I'm fairly certain such a 3rd party app would require.

Add those 50 numbers used on a regular basis to your Favorites list.

Add and remove them from your favorites week to week.

RIM will be lucky to be in business a year from now unless acquired by another company.

JDB0311 wrote:

 

Just wondering, why so defensive, you must not have many employees or work in a large company!

Apple is a large company. I don't think you work in a larger company then Apple.

Not defensive at all. You made an accusation and I am telling you the consequence of your thought. This is how iPhone works. "What then" was my question if that happened to you.