Don’t worry about what you see others reporting here. Schools differ in what they offer, what they require/restrict, how they grade, etc. Your best bet is to choose the most rigorous path that allows your student to do well and have time for other things that matter, including sleep! Your school will submit a profile that will allow AOs to put that transcript in context.
I would recommend taking the AP exams at the end of junior year. There’s no obligation to report the scores, but a good score can “validate” an A. In a test optional world, it can help to have a few points that are standardized.
To your question, I believe most people report APs as the # taken by graduation, and yes, there is likely a bit of puffery on the part of some. (Years ago, the NYT showed a transcript that included AP Botany, which doesn’t exist!)