Did a quick search, but in my opinion the parity drives should not count towards the device limit since data can't be placed on those like the non-parity drives can be.

If it is like this already ignore 😄 still new to unraid

You cannot add data to it, sure.

But it's not like it is doing nothing, it adds some protection.

It's a simple : more data vs more protection within the limitation of the license.

If I decide I need that protection, I can understand that it is at the cost of one or several data drives.