patch protocol question

[Tobin C. Harding]

I would like to know the correct protocol in order to make the
maintainers job as easy as possible please. 

Once a patch has been reviewed and the review makes good points that
mean the patch is invalid/unnecessary what is the protocol from then?
Assuming one replies to the reviewer with thanks and acknowledging
their points. Is it then protocol to state that you are not going to
pursue the patch further? How do maintainers know to not bother any
more with a patch?

Similar question; if the last patch of a patch series is not needed
should one resend another version without the last patch or is there
an accepted protocol to signal this so that the maintainer only looks
at merging the initial patches in the series.

thanks,
Tobin.