So I have a theory on the 7 suspects on Jane's list.  Why does he choose these 7 people?  What's so special about them?  I believe some are on the list because they are suspects, while others are merely accomplices.

Brett Stiles.  Jane thinks he's an accomplice.  He's never shaken hands with Jane, but Brett has always hinted that he knows RJ's identity.  We know there's a connection to visualize.  Jane puts him on the list because he believes Stiles will either willingly or unwillingly help him reveal RJ.

Gale Bertram.  He's an accomplice.  Jane knows he doesn't fit Rosalind's description of under six feet with short straight hair, but the man is in on it.  He's the director of the CBI and basically owns the Red John case.  He's always telling Jane "I wanna be there when you reveal Red John".

Ray Haffner.  He was a suspect, and a damn good one.  But he ain't RJ.  I don't believe he's actually involved.

Reede Smith.  He's an accomplice.  Jane never shakes hands with him, but RJ states in season 4, "...luckily I have a friend in the FBI".  Jane has deduced  that Reede is his FBI accomplice.

Bob Kirkland.  He was a suspect, but Jane discovers he was merely hunting RJ... oh and he's dead now.

Brett Partridge.  He ain't RJ, cuz he's dead, but he's very important!  What does he do for a living? Forensics!  Where do we always see him?  RJ crime scenes.  He's the guy who cleans up after RJ.  He makes sure no evidence can lead to him.  This is why Red John kills him.  Partridge knows vital clues and information that in Jane's hands, could identify RJ.

Sheriff Mcallister.  He's a sheriff in wine country.  Not much to contribute as an accomplice.  Not much jurisdictional prowess.  Therefore he has to be a suspect.  As I mentioned previously, they do not physically shake hands, but Jane and Tom play rock paper scissors, where-in you shake your hand repeatedly before revealing either rock, paper or scissors.  Therefore, they "shook" hands.  He's a hunter and as he tells Patrick, he knows how to "clean and quarter a kill".

Incidentally, what do hunters always do to their prey after they shoot it?  They cut the throat and let it bleed out.  What does RJ do to all his victims?  He cuts their throat and watches the life leave their eyes.  Plus, the knife RJ uses is quite possibly a hunting knife.  Take a look at this scene where he saves Patrick.  First he shoots a victim, then he slits her throat.  Plus the knife certainly looks like a hunting knife for quartering and cleaning a kill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKZvmwU1ufg