Yes, among YouTubers (and viewers), subscriber count is a metric that’s hailed above most other metrics.
And it’s easy to see why: as well as view count, # of likes and dislikes, the subscriber count is one of few metrics that are on display for all.
The larger the subscriber count, the more the social appeal, and apparently, the more influence a channel can have.
But is subscriber count the be-all-end-all?
No, it’s not.
There’s a section of the YouTube Creator Academy that talks about collaboration.
It lists 4 other things you, as a YouTuber, can offer other YouTubers:
Skills, production resources, unique access, and broad audiences.
Source: YouTube Creators Twitter channel