After over a week of trying to get a meeting with @TeamYouTube we finally have one scheduled for an hour from now. If you have any constructive feedback to share with them regarding the abbreviated subscriber numbers (via the api), reply to this tweet.
Dear YouTube,
Please understand that doing this is a bad idea. Abbreviated sub counts will destroy the moments of hitting milestones as most creators like to capture a live reaction, and you taking away live sub-counts will destroy that. Please, don't do it.
Thanks. 