I think I've got 28... But I can always make more. And I don't use the bucket method.(feels cheap)
Bucket method doesn't produce any extra obsidian so there's no issue there. Building the scaffolding and cooling the portal mode takes time too.
I just took a look at the mod section recently. Wow, I'm more excited about these mods than the actual Halloween update.
We've got a mod that allows retractable bridges, drawbridges, flood gates, trap doors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw7PNhk8v3U and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tVRAiajPBcThere's also a light sensor for redstone so you can make things like a fortress that automatically seals it's entrances and starts spewing out lava whenever night falls!
Someone finally added back in colored cloth and recipes to make the different colors.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=66080Ridable mobs with special benefits to riding different stuff.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=50021Someone else fixed the bug where lava buckets were getting eaten by furnaces and not giving back the bucket.
And if you want to play the game like you're playing thief someone added explosive, fire, water, and torch arrows. I like the torch arrows the best (pretty much the only good way to light up some of these massive holes you find, especially once torches go out in the next update).
I'm also seeing all sorts of difficulty mods, chat improvements and other minor fixes.