Power Core Combiners - do the new Minicons count?

[dirge]

Wouldn't counting your collection be easier if the system was based on the mold, unit and packaging as determined by Hasbro/Takara?

Probably. But there are so many minor variants, packaging variants, overlaps and the like. In the end, you can count however you want. The UCM is simply designed as a means to make comparisons between collection sizes since everyone will count as they see fit. And it's optional