That is three mails. Each one in each folder is separate and unread.

My point is that each email is counted three times (once from each folder.) If for the account, I could specify to have it count only the new mail in the inbox, it would make more sense to me - especially since the inbox is a folder at the same level as the Gmail folder.

Your image shows 2 unread mails in three folders. That is exactly how it is. Each of those folders has 2 unread mails in it. That they are the same email is simply unfortunate side effect of the multiple labels Google offer for new mail, not a fault in the software that receives three copies of the same email from Google.

I unsubscribed from the important folder years ago because really I only want to see one copy of mail not multiples. We also recommend unsubscribing from the all mail folder as it is a duplication of mail offered up else where in other folders.

You can also get rid of the ridiculous [Gmail] structure by correctly setting the IMAP server directory to [Gmail] in account settings > server settings > advanced.

If by some obscure chance you are talking about the icon badge with the count. It has two setting in options. A count of unread messages and a count of new message, or you an just turn it off as I have done because it only reports 99+ on all the time anyway. Turning it off means the count will never be wrong.

Thanks Matt. I wasn't aware I could clean up the structure as you pointed out.

/steve