Leads module - Merge / Delete

[Shairal]

We would like to give our users the option to merge like leads, but not delete. However the two seem to be linked together under the permissions - give permissions to delete allows a user to merge, but disallow delete and you cannot merge (I do understand the thinking behind this). Aside from that ... Is there a way to allow a user to merge leads, but not delete?
Thanks in advance!

[Angel]

I am not sure why you would want to do that.

By its very nature, merge implies something will be deleted and in that context, it makes perfect sense to me why the permissions would be tied together in their current manner.

Were you to give someone the ability to delete records by means of a merge action only, there is nothing to keep them from using that as loophole to the inability to delete in general.