Sorry is this is a basic question, but what is the purpose of the memory amount indicator at the top/center of the project window?  What is this telling me?  Should I be looking out for anything?  A number it should not reach, etc?

It tells you how much memory MC is using.  If you are having performance issues or your system is sluggish, click the "Clear Bin Memory" button and that should help out with the performance.

If the percentage gets up over 80%, and your system is sluggish, I would click the Clear Bin Memory" button.  That 70% is not set in stone but rather a percentage I go by.

It tells you how much memory MC is using.  If you are having performance issues or your system is sluggish, click the "Clear Bin Memory" button and that should help out with the performance.

If the percentage gets up over 80%, and your system is sluggish, I would click the Clear Bin Memory" button.  That 80% is not set in stone but rather a percentage I go by.

So does that just close the bins like If you have a ton of bins open it's just like clicking on "close all bins"?  Or does this proceedure do something else to help with memory.