@renaissancedad , I generally agree with your points. My point of view is APs should not be seen as a way to make a transcript more impressive, but as a way for some students to get more out of HS. However, if a student is successful with the more rigorous AP work, that should appeal to many selective colleges. If they do not want to give an extra boost to more than 5 APs, that is their choice, but if an adcom penalizes an applicant for more APs because they think they are gaming the systems, that would be unfair. Hopefully, adcoms can look beyond the number of APs taken deduce the motivation.
He is where I am coming from: My D goes to a school heavy with APs (about 30 offered). They offer a diploma option that among other things requires at least 7 AP courses. Getting that designation earns a “very rigorous” check mark from the CG, not “most rigorous” just “very rigorous.” The high achievers (not necessary high GPAs) graduate with at least 10 to 12 APs (and over 40 credits hours toward a degree at a state school!). They are not cramming in APs like the example in the referenced post, but when given the option of an honors vs an AP course, they generally choose the AP course. And the school is not trying to game the system, it is the culture of the school to take advantage of the AP offerings and the free college credit. They take this approach instead of DE. If you do well grade wise, you will be in the top 10%. It is hard to get a meaningful advantage by trying to cram in extra APs, the best gain their advantage through outstanding ECs. I am sure adcoms know the school’s philosophy and evaluate applicants accordingly.
Point of IB not being the same as AP is not that AP is better, but that IB is more structured, some feel too structured for a HS curriculum that should be a little more exploratory. Eliminating APs in favor of IB or DE would not better for all students. My point of view comes from our school district that has AP schools and IB magnet schools. Different kinds of kids thrive in each environment.
“Being in an IBD program by itself is sufficient to show curricular rigor” - Agreed