The techspec idea is complicated, as many toys either had no cards, multiple cards (combiners) or one card for a group.
The way I count a figure is if it converts or has a convertable component. That way the mainline of Actionmasters count because they came with a convertable component, while things like Mega SCFs, Robot Replicas and Movie Scene Bumblebee don't.
My 'more simplified' counting method is:
1 -Officially produced by Hasbro, Takara or foreign equivalent as a legitimately saleable figure (not a prototype or pre-production figure).
2 -Converts or has a converting component.
3 -Is officially defined as a character, but not be part of another character.
4 -Must be functional/playable (can be broken if it is still playable) and not be a duplicate (has to be distinguishable in some way).