Never really looked at pace counting as a navigational aid. It just nevercame up.
Looked here:
http://therucksack.tripod.com/landnav.htm#pacecountingI can see how it could be used and useful, especially when the environment prohibits sighting to distant landmarks or orienting by overviews of your route of travel.
It does seem to me that pace counting would interfere with appreciation of everything else. Perhaps if you always did it pace counting would fade into the background as an almost unconscious activity.
Edit:
Further thoughts: unless your navigation is straightline, with only exact right angle adjustments and detours, pace counting seems both problematic and of limited use. My usual environments include substantial vertical elements that do not allow regular pace length throughout and often force movement at many and varying angles other than right angles. My usual activities include foraging, fishing, and hunting in various patterns of walking also far different than straightline or right angle.