Cattleya dividing and repotting "rules" and back bulbs

[ddivey36]

So I am inspired by Astrid and her question types:
Here I go...
I was given 5 cattleyas that are just beginning to crawl out of the pots...Bifoliate and unifoliate types.
*for both types when they are sprouting new growths and roots (which is now) should I cut off the front parts and repot.

What happens to the back bulbs? If I see active eyes, will those back bulbs reproduce, or do most cattleyas continue the front crawl and the back used up bulbs should be thrown away to make room for other plants...

I have done it both ways and some of my back bulbs cattleyas have reproduced and some I have had to throw away as they were spent.

Wondering what (realizing that each plant is different) the forum says....is it best to keep the front parts only? In general do catttleyas just crawl forward? What successes can you share? What advice in general should I follow? How do you know if you should keep the back part- if the active eyes are "hidden"...

I also divided an SLC Magic fire into 4's- AT THE WRONG TIME- was an experiment- 3 of the 4 parts are putting out new growth....the ugliest/oldest part has not....I probably should have keep this plant all together but was testing all those opinions out there about dividing....just had to try for myself....but now I have small plants that I may have to wait a year or two for a bloom, and not a specimen...BUT sometimes it is better to divide when the older part of the plant looks hideous?

Thanks for your comments and letting me ramble on...