I think we understand your thinking. We also think it’s wrong.
“Count of AP courses” isn’t an admissions criteria. It’s not a race. If you’re taking the logical sequence of courses defined above, then you’re challenging yourself with a rigorous schedule and that’s what schools want.
Applicants who pile up an AP count with meaningless AP courses, usually at the cost of other aspects as a student/person, actually come across quite negatively.
One of the top schools (Stanford?) has stated that once you pass five AP courses, the impact on success become marginal. Feedback I’ve received from admissions staff at elite schools has indicated that they eyes glaze over one you’re past 7-8 APs. As long as they’re the right ones.
Take the APs that are logical course progressions. Take elective APs if you are very interested in the subject (my D is taking Sociology next year).