Set your preferences to view resized regardless of artist preferences.  Go find an image that you know will be resized upon initial viewing.  Click on it for full-size.  Boom, the view full size counter updates.  Works every time.  The full size counter will NOT update (nor should it) if you have your preferences set to view full size regardles of artist preference, only the top view counter will advance as a viewed image. The full size counter only updates when some has their preferences set to view reduced, THEN chooses to view full size because they find it worthy.

Therefore, the conclusions you can draw are:

Most people view full size via their preferences, therefore full size counts are meaningless;

Most people have never set their preferences and don't know that they can view full size as a default and aren't brilliant enough to click the image for a full size view;

Most people who choose to view reduced don't find your image worthy of a full size view or are limited in bandwidth (dial-up)

Nic tried to explain this above.

There ya go.