Why it matters
Token pricing only works if tokenization is stable. If a model update inflates token counts, effective cost and quotas jump even with flat $/token—so re-baseline tokens-per-task on every version change.
Tokenmaxxing read
Hidden tokenmaxxing: disciplined prompts can still get pricier when tokenization shifts. Add token-count regression checks to evals, track tokens-per-successful-task over time, and pin versions until budgets and quotas are re-baselined.
Source takeaway
Citing developer measurements via Claude Code logs and Anthropic’s migration guide, Opus 4.7 can emit ~1.0–1.35x more tokens (code-heavy higher), translating to materially higher session cost despite unchanged per-token pricing.
