There isn’t a one size fits all model to AP courses because of the variation in high school curriculums and structure.
Issue one: Rigor matters for competitive college admission. Whether that is by taking AP courses or not depends on the context of the student’s high school. There are some schools that gate keep AP numbers, others that have their own curriculum that isn’t AP but still rigorous, IB schools, DE programs, etc…
Issue two: IMO, students should take the most rigorous course load that they can manage, as directed/recommended by their HS teachers and guidance counselors.
My D actually felt that the APs not in her area of interest were most helpful because they got her out of her university gen ed requirements and she could use those spots for courses and certifications that she really wanted to take. APs in her area though helped her start in higher level courses so it was a balance.
GCs at my D’s college prep high school actively discouraged self study. They felt the time was better served in developing depth in ECs and volunteering.
0 APs were allowed freshman year, 1 allowed sophomore year (AP Euro), and then 3 allowed junior and senior year. AP science classes could only be taken after a year long honors class so that restricted AP chem and physics to senior year only. Limited DE classes were allowed starting sophomore year. High class grades and test scores were required to get permission to take an AP or DE class.