> Quoting from the section on Dvanda
>compounds in Warder, p.97: "The more important or leading object, if
>any, sometimes occupies the second position, which is normally the
>dominant position in Pali (cf. the tappurisa compound).

A related idea that might be worth looking at is whether the later member tends to be longer (i.e. has more syllables) than the former member. The first two dvandvas that spring to mind follow this pattern: devamanussa, pattaciivara. In lists of otherwise equally important items there is a tendency to arrange them in order of length. It sounds nice that way and might be an aid to memorization. I don't know if there's any reason why it would be this way in dvandvas but it could be worth keeping an eye out for.

best regards,

/Rett