Personally I qualify any alteration to a game - no matter how small - a mod. This includes anything from increase a unit's price by $1, or changing the font, to a Total Conversion.
On the name of TC... Yes, the word is overused, a TC is something that leaves (relatively) no trace of the original game.
It may not be great, or even good, and may be lazily made and fairly pointless...but it's still a mod in my book.
The only time being first means something, is in a race, where you get vast prize monay, for modding I'm shocked you people even care so much.

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