VIEW COUNT comments total per node I have found code to show the total:

How To Show Node Comment Count in node.tpl?

Unfortunately I need to have this value available via VIEWS because I want to list 5 nodes based on total comment count. Short of caching the total as a field in the node (intercepting comment post and incrementing the number) -- what are my options?
There is a field available in views called "Comment count" - just add this field and your done.