All jokes aside, I somewhat understand the reasoning behind abbreviated public subscriber counts. However, I do think that @TeamYouTube should have a system where you can have public access to a live count in the 1% build up to a YouTuber hitting a milestone.
I share your sentiment but YouTube has made it pretty clear that they have no care in the world for what it's creators feel or think. YouTube simply wants to look nice and shiny in front of the public, nothing more nothing less.