So i've gone through Fernandez's SP...well that was so much harder than I anticipated
Now i'm absolutely no kind of expert at all, but when I watch a skating programme I have a feeling for when difficult turns or steps are done. I can't instantly call a bracket, counter and some rockers without looking at the feet very carefully and sometimes in slow motion, but I get a sense of one of those turns. Having started I decided to watch the whole programme in slow motion and just write down every single blade work transition I saw (I have the notes of the whole thing in order if anyone is interested I'm happy to copy and paste my notes). I will say that Javier does have several sections in this SP that have toe steps, held edges, consecutive edges with toe drags and things like that to allow him to do the upper body choreography and set the Flamenco mood for the programme and these things were done equally to both sides. He also had spread eagles, and a few half turn jumps, and jumped turns. As stated i have not included any of the steps in his step sequence but noted everything else.
What was left in terms of identifiable steps and turns were as follows:
Cross overs: were evenly matched in both directions he did 7 anticlockwise (5 forward and 2 backwards), and 8 Clockwise (all back no forward...as a by the by, if the world champion doesn't have to include his crappy side Forward cross overs, then i'm telling my coach neither to do
)
Mohawks: he only executed in an anticlockwise direction - he did 8 overall, all but one of which was RFI Mohawk, and one RBO mohawk.
Three turns: he did 6* Anticlockwise (5 were LFO 3's, 1 LBI 3), and 1 clockwise (LBO3).
* he also did RBO twizzle transition into his sitspin, but as he didn't do any other twizzles I didn't include that anywhere else.
Choctaws: he only executed in an anticlockwise direction - he did 5 in total - all RBI Choctaws.
Rockers: he did 2 Anticlockwise (a RFI and a LBI) and one clockwise (RFO).
Counters: he did 1 clockwise counter - the RFI counter.
He did no brackets, loops, or twizzles (save for the one mentioned above).
So he clearly favours his dominant side of rotation and executes most of his turns and steps in that direction. If you ignore the choctaws, which we should, since RBI Choctaw-LFO 3 turn is his favourite combination and is one that you learn as the entry to every basic spin at the start of your skating career. (I am a crappy adult skater by most standards, but I can successfully complete this series of turns at speed). Then he basically did 4 difficult turns three of them rockers.
He had very effective transitions throughout the programme but i'd query how difficult they were. Leaving the strict turns/steps to one side. He didn't show much multidirectional skating. He seemed upright in most of his movements (there was very little side to side, or backwards to forward lean of the core. He did a fair amount of verticle movements (drags, squatting movements etc).
Overall I think he had great transitions, but I query whether they were particularly difficult.
Whole translation of the Russian article, if you find it interesting:
http://chibura.tumblr.com/post/143787559605/my-friend-marina-has-just-translated-the-whole
Some quote about top men:
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Now let’s try to analyze the criteria’s for TR PCS in each of these programs: Yuzuru Hanyu in his SP demonstrates the best variety of transitions. The most amount of one footed transitions, minimum running steps and crossovers. Transitions are well distributed throughout entire program. Besides skating transitions he uses transitions of figure skating elements such as spread eagles, Bauers and half jumps”, the variety of transitions are very good. Execution of transitional steps and elements are followed by hand/body movements and are accompanied with the change of movements, balancing difficult transitions but the easy steps are executed together with hand and body movements – the difficulty of transitions is very good. Transitions are well incorporated in the program (both into elements and also difficult entries /exits) All three jumping elements Yuzuru is executing with difficult entries, 2 jumps from 3 has the difficult exit as well, the difficulty of transitions are very good. The quality of executing transitions is very good, hand movements, whole upper body and head is matching the music.
The variety of transitions of Patrick Chan’s SP is very good, balanced skating transitions and enough quantity of one footed transitions and elements of figure skating ( lunge and half jumps) , small amount of running steps and crossovers, the difficulty of transitions is very good. Execution is accompanied by body , hand and head movements, changing direction all the time. Easy steps are followed by difficult steps in a balanced way. The difficulty of transitions is good, Patrick has many transitions in his program but most of them are concentrated in the parts where he doesn’t executes jumps and he doesn’t execute difficult entries/exits. Entries to 4T3T and 3A are easy. Not a single difficult exit, Only his 3Lz has difficult entry. The quality of transitions is very good.
The variety in the program of Javier Fernandez is good. Crossovers and running steps are balanced/equal quality with one footed transitions and transitional elements (Spread eagle, turnsand half jumps), There are some skating steps that matches the character and style of music , small amount of crossovers, The difficulty of transitions is good. The execution of transitional steps are accompanied by hand and body movements with changing direction. The difficulty of transitions is good, well distributed . Two jumps from 3 (4S and 3A) are executed from difficult entries. No difficult exits. The quality of transitions is good, especially good movements with hands and head in the style of Spanish dance.
The variety of transitions in the SP of Adam Rippon is higher than medium (close to a good), Using two footed transitions and crossovers before using one footed transitions. Using good amount of variety of elements of figure skating (lunges, spread eagle, Walley, half jump non listed jump elements ) The difficulty of transitions is good. Many movements of body and hands during the execution of steps and elements, changing the direction all the time.
The difficulty of transitions is close to the high, transitions are distributed between elements which are not difficult entries/exits, only 3Lz is executed with difficult entry. The quality of execution of transitions is good.
The variety of transitions in Michael Kolyada’s SP is close to high. With the amount of the one footed skating transitions skater occupies honorary 4th place after Hanyu-Chan-Fernandez. Enough quantity of transitions, steps and elements (Bauer , Besti, half jump) The difficulty of transitions is good, enough quanitity of transitions accompanied by the changing direction and body/hand movements. The difficulty of transitions is good. Transitional elements are well distributed in different elements, part of the transitions are the difficult entries 3A and 3Lz. In entries he uses not only steps and turns but also non listed skating elements, the quality of transition execution is good,
The variety of transitions in Boyang Jon’s program is medium. He uses transitional steps , also transitional elements ( lunge and halfjump), uses 2 footed transitions, easy steps (Mohawk and Chasse), the quality of crossovers and running steps not very much, the difficulty of transitions is medium, head movements, hand /body during the execution of of transitional steps enough, transitions are executed with the changng of direction The difficulty of transitions –medium transitional elements are distributed between elements and they are not included in difficult entries/exits, the entries on jumping elements are easy, except 3A (Here he surprises pleasantly). The quality of executing transitions is medium, but young man is trying.
The variety of transitions in Shoma Uno’s program is medium, using 2 footed transitions, big amount of running steps and crossovers, combining rare transitions for changing the direction for example (Mohawks and three turns or spread eagles” . Enough amount of body movements, the difficulty of transitions –medium, not enough changing direction while executing the transitions. The difficulty of transitions are higher than medium, big amount of transition elements are concentrate between elements and are not included in entries/exits, the exception is the entry on 3A and exit from it. The quality of transitions is good.
Interesting observation, some top skaters are using same entries and exits of the same type of jumps, both in SP and LP (4T and 3A of Patrick , 4T and 4S of Javier) It is understandable that jumping from the same entry is easier and convenient, but on the other hand after that it is a bit difficult to speak about difficulty of some transitions in both programs, With the quads in sp, also difficulty of transitions before elements, difficulty and variety the most difficult program is executed by Yuzuru Hanyu, a good program but a bit easier is executed by Javier Fernandez.
You're right, they are considered steps. Still, since an outside mohawk and most forward choctaws are considerably more difficult than some of those turns (particularly three turns of any variety) I would have found it interesting to include them, along with the other steps you mention.
we have 2 worries. 
