Hmmm - that is true, and I had missed that... BUT... (:lol:)
Muto Vim Guidelines specifically state that MuVi effects work differently than any other combo, including Perdo Vim. They have unusual Restrictions - for one, they cannot affect spontaneous spells, which PeVi can. More, they cannot affect spells after they have been cast, so it's unclear if those rules can apply to PeVi - which only affect spell effects.
(I'd think that a fast-cast Vim spell could work against spells of the Form of Vim, as with any other, since that is the largely the only way, by either of our understandings, one could defend against such.)
I think the most compelling argument in the RAW is under the Spontaneous Spells section - the fact that nowhere does it say "Oh, btw - PeVi stops anything!" Nowhere in the book does it even suggest it as far as defensive spell vs. spell magic. (And you'd think they would, it'd kinda be important.)
As pointed out above, the term "counterspell" is never used in AM in this context or any other - it's being imported from another game. The Fast-Cast rules talk about casting as a "defense" against other spells, or "in response to them" - never as a pre-emptive strike that prevents them from being cast in the first place. (Tho' see below...)
With one exception (see next), you can only Perdo the effect, so you must wait for it to be cast - and once it is cast on you, it is too late, as at that point you've been affected. And in the fastcast rules, it never discusses targeting the casting, only the effect.
Don't have Societates (so I'll have to let someone else speak to that, and keep my fingers crossed), but I'm glad you brought this up. I'll now offer evidence on your side - just not the same case your making...
By the PeVi Guidelines (part of "the normal rules" of PeVi), the only base effect that could work (I did find one for you!) is the following:General: [list]...
Reduce the casting total for all magic cast by the target by half the (level +2 magnitudes) of the (PeVi) spell... The spell must penetrate the target's Magic Resistance in order to have any effect.[/list:u]So, if you can successfully fast-cast that type of spell, and beat (or equal?) the other mage's initiative, and Penetrate, and lower their Casting Total to where the spell doesn't go off... problem solved.
(If this is what you were referring to, my bad, and I'll eat much crow for borfing - my Matho technique has not been strong lately. Apparently I took the cyclic Flaw, and I'm in a down swing.)
But since any other PeVi effect doesn't work until the opposing effect already exists, I just don't see any of those working - short of a general Rego Ward against Magic, or fast casting a spontaneous ReVi type deflection with at least a Momentary duration. By the RAW, you can't cast a (non-ward) spell without a Target, and with that one exception, PeVi targets effects, not the casting of spells before an effect exists.