Like most answers, it really depends on what you are trying to achieve...
I for one prefer to use a Hit Level eVar...
This ensures that only where I set the value, it will exist... but the eVar allows for 255 characters, which is more than the standard pageName will hold (truncated at 100).
I also send the pageName value on all my actions, so that I have full correlation to the page where the click/action is performed...
When I use the page view metric, it will match the original page counts, when I pair with occurrences, I will get ALL page views and clicks/actions; and when I pair it with specific custom events for specific actions, I will only get those actions.
If you have a different count, I am guessing you have a visit level expiry, and you are not setting the value all all pages (assuming you are using the page view metric)....
Example:
- First Page View - prop and eVar are set to "Page 1"
- Click action tracked - no prop value, but eVar maintains "Page 1" value with occurrence metric
- Second Page View - prop and eVar as set to "Page 2"
- Third Page View - prop and eVar are not set... eVar will maintain "Page 2" value on this page view