Interestingly, this appeared to be one of sorts of topics our resident Yale interviewer is instructed to explore, what these activities listed on paper really meant. I also understand that counselors are expected to help colleges understand such things when necessary, including possibly when contacted.
So as usual, there is potentially more going on here than colleges just accepting activities lists at face value, at least when it might actually matter to them. Which again makes sense given the lack of standardization.