It says it's removed them, but the files are still in the WinSXS and it still lists the same packages as being installed after using the /r command on about 100 packages.

I've commited, and exported the wim and it's still not gone. :/

It seems to me that it doesn't physically remove them, but makes it so they do not install. Having not actually used it, not sure about that but just a guess. Looking at this, seems that you need to do additional steps to remove the winsxs data:

Go extreme with vlite & Server

if u want to remove winsxs as well and still have the aero

Have you removed them off- or online? The Scavenging cleans the files later. In Win8 you can force the Scavenging with a DISM command.

I'm running Windows 8, can I force win8 dism to scavage Win7 install wim offline?

nope, DISM would use the engine from the Win7 image which doesn't support this operation.