Not sure when this started, but I just noticed it in 2178 or 2179 (though it is mentioned relative to 2162 in this thread [1]). I cleared out my recent items and now no folders are being logged there. So I open ST2, open a folder, close it, and recent folders is empty. Close ST2 and reopen, recent folders still empty. OS X 10.7.3 and ST2 2180.
[1] https://forum.sublimetext.com/t/file-change-detection/21/1&hilit=open+recent+folders