Can a MIDI track be isolated for editting regardless of view?

Part of this issue here is that I do not understand the difference between "selected" as in the track number highlighted and "selected" as the left track view pane has been clicked on. Bottom line is can a track(s) be locked in essence so it becomes the only editable track(s) in the project (i.e. any data manipulations can only occur there so it retains focus)?
 
Situation: Working with a guide track in the track view (TV), the Piano Roll View (PRV) is being used to create a drum track. The TV is collapsed so only the guide track is visible, the PRV takes up the bottom 3/4 of the screen. The MIDI track is selected (track number highlighted), but if I happen to click on the TV in the left track pane (which is the largest "innocuous target"), the name gets highlighted, so any "paste" of MIDI occurs to that audio track. Making this mistake requires scrolling the TV, selecting the MIDI track, and scrolling back up.
 
Is there a means to lock this out? The only "safe zones" in the TV seem to be the FX bin (largest target), timeline, and scrollbar. The real issue with this situation is that the view is rather delicate to set up and "resetting" it to what it was on an errant click is bothersome.