Am I the only one who actually LIKES @TeamYouTube's decision to (re)raise the #PartnerProgram requirements to 1,000 subs / 4,000 hours?
#BackInMyDay you needed to be INVITED. Being partnered was sometihng you EARNED. It meant something! Twitch is the same way!
As a (soon to be former) member of the partner program I completely agree, in order for it to work best for everyone it needs this bar to entry! Honestly I shouldn't have been partnered in the first place!