Why so complex to get a list, and count together ?
As the subject refers, it seems you have to do a mighty dance to get something so simple. If you are using a listitem, and have the counter enabled, surly its not difficult to jump to the requirement of counting something within the query and filling counter with it.
Otherwise why use it at all?
You cannot even call a query with a 'count' so it brings both together. What plans do you have, if any, for the counter function of a listitem ?