How hard can it be?..
 
For some reason selecting "move checked devices to top" simply does not work in the preferences>midi>input window. This bug (or if you will, an omitted feature for this one particular i/o selection) has been around for virtually forever (predates 8.5) , and with well over a dozen connected midi ports I have to scroll down each and every time there is a change.. 
 
please, tidy up the housekeeping :)