The exception in 2008 still has the 42 OCPD's when used in a specific application.
Exception No. 2: Individual protection shall not be required
for a panelboard protected on its supply side by two
main circuit breakers or two sets of fuses having a combined
rating not greater than that of the panelboard. A
panelboard constructed or wired under this exception shall
not contain more than 42 overcurrent devices. For the purposes
of determining the maximum of 42 overcurrent devices,
a 2-pole or a 3-pole circuit breaker shall be considered
as two or three overcurrent devices, respectively.