I do not believe that the real Red John was on the "Final 7" list. Jane obviously expected that his research was subject to compromise, else he would not have used the classic spy trick of placing an easily "invisible" item that, when displaced, would reveal unwanted visitors, into the door frame of his sanctum sanctorum. (Jane used a toothpick; Bond used a strand of hair in the original novel of Casino Royale.)

I believe that Jane mocked up a completely false--'though completely plausible--trail of clues for the express purpose that they would be compromised. This would be why Red John "knows" who the suspects are:  they are precisely who Jane wants Red John to think he suspects. I also think Jane already knows who Red John is, but needs more hard evidence, or has at least narrowed his actual suspect list down far further than the seven on the "official" list.

Is the real Red John "accidentally" on the suspect list, in an attempt by Jane to force Red John to reveal himself definitively--and provable in a court of law as such--through some mistake? Likely. Is the real Red John deliberately NOT on the list, with Jane hoping to trap Red John as the latter stalks the "Final 7" (we already know Red John is not a fan of others getting the credit for his own work). Also likely.

Heller is right, regardless. We will be disappointed when we find out who Red John is, but not because we think Heller selected the least popular--or "best"-- suspect. We will be disappointed because there will be no more mystery. Jack the Ripper's infamy is entirely due to the fact that we never found out who he was nor why he did it. When Red John is revealed--and Heller will have to reveal it, as millions of fans will cry out for his blood if he does not, out of a demand for closure--the disappointment we will feel will be the absence of anticipation, because, let's be honest, we don't really want the mystery to end...just yet.

p.s. Has Red Sweater Guy (from the mall food court) been completely discredited yet? And did anyone else think he bore more than a passing resemblance to Kirkland (the man behind the attic break-in?) I'm just sayin'... (Although a bit too obvious, I think he's at best an acolyte, not the man himself. And if Jane named an actual disciple on the list, you know Red John would have to do something about that...)