1.) What information does the number of columns in a MySQL database convey? It's not just that there are six of them, but that records could be poured over for various irc servers in an attempt to link the 6 accounts that interacted with eachother the most. It allows for deeper inspection, and perhaps more information. However,

2.) They almost certainly are. I could see them saying how many people they actually had almost as a bluff, but more than likely they're just throwing out misinformation.

Disinformation is most likely, but I've been hoping for some steganography from their Pastbins from day one.

chat logs show more than 6..

But its only 6 that are active in illegal stuff