Does the count() function require access to the whole

A couple days ago Michael Kay wrote:

	Inspection operations on an element are operations
	that can be performed while positioned at the start tag.

	Inspection operations include: count(), exists(), name().

	Absorption operations are operations that require access
	to the whole subtree.

	Absorption operations include: string(), data(), xsl:value-of

Michael, doesn't the count() function require access to the whole subtree? How
would a count be conducted by sitting at the top of a subtree? Perhaps you
meant to say that the count() function is an absorption operation?

/Roger