here is an update:
 
Auto-Rule that calculates total of item AND total of all sub items...
 
 
Code:

++:!+-MNFICP:len(replace(replace(replace(ITT,"!",".",1),"[A-Za-z][\w'\-]*","!",1),"[^!]","",1))  + sumc(fv("WordCount"), !fv("Skip")) : (ITT  OR [WordCount]) AND ([CountEm?] OR [^CountEm?])
++:!+: (len(replace(replace(replace(ITT,"!",".",1),"[A-Za-z][\w'\-]*","!",1),"[^!]","",1))  + sumc(fv("WordCount")) - [MaxCount]) * -1: [MaxCount]
 

 
 
How to use:
 
WordCount is a numeric folder where this rule resides.
CountEm? if a check folder that turns on/off counting for an item and all its children.
MaxCount is a numeric folder that contains MAX COUNT value.  The difference with the sum of word count of children is shown in WordCount folder instead of count value.
Skip is check folder that allows SKIPPING selected sub items from the count total.