When I was taught Hapkido, I was taught that at the moment of attack, I should not really think about what technique to use, but should simply react with a technique that was appropriate for the kind of attack. Trying to decide on a techique as an attack is coming to you could indeed be worrisome.
As to the original post, I remember seeing this before and I don't know for sure why I didn't comment. However, I am inclined to think of all the 'variations' described as separate techniques in most cases are separate techniques, just for the reason I mentioned above. I want my body to react to an attack. I don't want to be thinking after I have blocked, should I add a kick, or a lock, or strike a nerve point. I want my body to react with a certain set of moves that are known to be effective. When I do, in the event the defense should not work, and I haven't left myself exposed (as we normally don't in Hapkido), I would either move into another technique, or retreat and await another attack and response.
It may sound like I am saying the same thing as others here, but I think there is a distinction.
I could not agree with you more. If your body does not react to a treat, then most likely you will be struck prior to thinking of an appropriate response.
In MuSool Hapkido our training falls more onto the principles of a technique then specific techniques. How do you step, where do you want the hand or arm on a throw, how do you grab the hand or arm so that your attacker does not get away, etc.
Techniques up to green belt (the first year of training) are more hoshinsool in nature and include falling and safely getting up, three basic hand strikes, four kicks, stepping used to close the gap or create space, taking away the attackers arsenal, getting a basic throw, some minor ground defense, some minor grab defense and some kicking defense. There are ten instructional classes and two review classes and then the curriculum repeats until the student has the above mastered.
By green belt my students should be able to safely defend themselves in a street altercation and get away from a larger, stronger attacker with no or little martial arts experience. Most to the attacks will come from those type of people.
From green belt to purple belt, my students arsenal is expanded with some large circle throws, some wrist locks/throws, arm/elbow locks and takedowns all from inside of an attack. We also add two more kicks and two or three more strikes and a handful of ground defense techniques. The student will be envesting another year to two years, learning these techniques.
Purple to brown belt, we continue on the same type of locks and throws that are in the green belt to purple belt but the defense comes from outside of the attack. Purple to brown belt takes another year or two.
Brown belt to black belt we really focus on kicking defense. White to green belt has a few kicking defenses but we really expand on it. We also work on controlling someone (without rolling around with them) after the throw or takedown. This is really good for LEO's.
I would say from white belt to black belt we work on 50 or so techniques and the principles (and variations) on how and why we throw the said techniques. If you add all the variations and principles it is a lot more. After the black belt we expand the techniques while mataining the principles and theories already instructed.
My two cents. Thanks for reading.
So, 72 original, plus 72 variants. Dependant upon your belt system too of course, I know some use the TKD system 
