Thinking more about post padding, I think switching off post count in the Off topic areas would help towards getting rid a lot of the fluff, if it doesn't make their count go up then they probably won't post it Also, if it's not already, do the same in the testing forum (pretty sure it'll already be going on in there though - pre-coffee thoughts )
You seem to think too much on a statistic which... doesnt actually mean much here @ XF