Yes, its been altered since that Nov. post to the one you posted first.
"I think I'm clear on it. It goes like this: If you buy something from buy mode, register, or Lifetime rewards and you have to place it on your lot to use it, then it must count as one of your 4 items.
If you buy something from the register or Lifetime Reward that doesn't have to get placed on your lot (recipe books, ingredients, etc) then you do not count it as one of your 4 items."