I think it all comes down to this statement here:
from http://www.tom-bryant.com/linkin-park-kerr...tom-bryant.html
so this is a purely estimated number by Phoenix. I don't know when exactly he said this, let's assume it was at the end of 2001, early 2002. Even if he spent only 30 nights in his own bed doesn't mean they played over 300 shows. This isn't bad wording on his part it's simply a wrong statement. They were doing really a lot of tour but 300 is way too much. 300 shows in 2001 is indeed bad wording and a changed quote, even within a year is not true either.
It's still used to this day, it's a very impressive statement for the extensive touring that they did back then but if you think about for just one moment it can possibly be true.
Just some quick math: A year has 365 days, 52 weeks. Let's say they did 6 shows week, which is unrealistic enough, makes it 312 shows.
Let's say 5 days a week which is still a lot! but possible and which they indeed did sometimes, would make it 260 shows.
And that is still without all the national holidays (christmas etc. when they were never touring) all the international traveling and the simple fact that you need some room to breath between tours.
It just can't be done.
While Phoenix estimates over 300, the itunes bio says over 320!
If you take the "365 days following the release" literally you get about 160 shows, which is the half lol.
I know I'm beating a dead horse here and I posted something similar before but I just felt like mentioning it again ^^
TL;DR: just like Mike, Phoenix has no idea what he's talking about