That is not true. I think subscribing only works for people accounts, not pages. Or at least, you are in a special A/B test that has that ability. Currently, I have no way of subscribing to a page to get updates. I can only "Like" the page.
I have no problem subscribing to Pages without Liking them. (Little drop down to the right of Like and Message buttons on a page; click on Add to Interest Lists...)
As per the grandparent post of this thread, I don't "Like" anything on twitter, and follow things in interested with Interest Lists.
Example of a page I have "Liked": http://bluetide.pro/me1r Example of the same page if I "UnLike" it: http://bluetide.pro/878h
There is no way to subscribe and get updates without "Liking" it.