I'm wondering if PM's count toward a newish users post total. I'm guessing they don't just by looking at my own profile post count. Should they? I'm guessing there is some valuable one-on-one exchange that goes on this way.

Regards,

PM's are just that. Private messages and do not count toward your post count. The post count total is the number of posts you have made to the Café to help others. There are forums that also do not count such as new arrival, not magical but... and a few others.