If you are the top elder... you won't be replaced anyways. Guilds don't replace missing members. They only do so when there are no elders left, and even then they don't give #1 spot. If paused characters count against the limits and prevent this from taking place... then just change that, instead of changing how pausing works.
As egamma says, your entire argument in this post is invalid, because guild elders can easily reclaim empty ranks above them.
