API: value_counts consistently return int64 dtype
- [x] closes #44679
- [x] tests added / passed
- [x] Ensure all linting tests pass, see [here](https://pandas.pydata.org/pandas-docs/dev/development/contributing_codebase.html#pre-commit) for how to run them
- [ ] whatsnew entry

when was the change added to make these EA types in the first place, was it for 1.4? This is already the behaviour since at least 1.0 (checked it for Int64 for that version) > This is already the behaviour since at least 1.0 (checked it for Int64 for that version)

ahh then this would be hard to change actually (as its the return type) > ahh then this would be hard to change actually (as its the return type)

its all still marked as experimental This pull request is stale because it has been open for thirty days with no activity. Please [update](https://pandas.pydata.org/pandas-docs/stable/development/contributing.html#updating-your-pull-request) and respond to this comment if you're still interested in working on this. no apparent interest here, closing.