There is a misunderstanding here somewhere. I think the person you are talking about was referring to a "lighting and appliance panelboard" and that term is gone too.
The reference to two pole breakers is telling you that a 2 pole breaker counts as two in the breaker count but they removed the maximum so that is moot now.
If you are on the 2008 or newer, that panel you are looking at is legal.
Talk this over with your electrical contractor. He should know if there is some local amendment that changes this.
This is what the code says
408.54 Maximum Number of Overcurrent Devices.
A panelboard shall be provided with physical means to prevent the installation of more overcurrent devices than that number for which the panelboard was designed, rated, and listed.
For the purposes of this section, a 2-pole circuit breaker or fusible switch shall be considered two overcurrent devices; a 3-pole circuit breaker or fusible switch shall be considered three overcurrent devices.
and this is the handbook commebtary
Aside from the second exception to 408.36, the maximum of 42 overcurrent devices was deleted for the 2008 Code. Now the quantity of overcurrent devices is limited to design and listing of the panelboard.