In discussing only straight nose-one merges, where both planes fly right through each other, and see exactly that, the faster connection would seem more likely to observe and report a collision than the slower connection would. I still think the slower plane would register the collision, but I don't think the slower plane can take damage. I'm trying to find HT's post on collisions and damage assignment a while back, where I think he said you couldn't collide with the same plane twice in short order and take damage from both events, but don't hold me to that interpretation. If someone can find that post, link it please. I'm going only from memory at the moment.
Skilless, I'd be up for that, but my gaming pc is dead in the water with a bad vid card. Don't know if I'll be back in game before the holiday passes.
I'm sure you could get a volunteer from our board of experts here in the meantime. If not, look me up then- I'm sure this issue won't get any less attention in the interum.