I actually made one rpm sensor for my CVT using a pulse in function and it gives very exact values,..i can help you out wit it,..pulse in does give you the duration,all you do is take the duration for the "on" time and the "off" time,..this will give you the sampling time.Now you have time,so you can get frequency,and then rpm.
The driver side of my side has an idling speed of about 1800 rpm,and i get the value at 1805 rpm ,constant till i throttle the engine,and gives a value of 3760 rpm ,for a max theoritical value of 3800 rpm.
so i can tell you that pulseIn works for sure